White-winged Dove – RestingZenaid asaitica March – Texas L=11.5” ...... WS=19” ...... WT=5 oz Order: Columbiformes (Pigeons and Doves) Family: Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) White-winged Doves are a flourishing species that are expanding their range north and eastward from Mexico and from southern Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. They appear to have benefited from increased human populations in the Southern U.S. as increased agriculture, ornamental trees, and bird feeders have provided additional feeding and nesting sites.
White-winged Dove – Juvenile sleeping at feederZenaid asaitica July – Texas L=11.5” ...... WS=19” ...... WT=5 oz Order: Columbiformes (Pigeons and Doves) Family: Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) Adult White-winged Doves sleep 10-20% of the time during the day and the young probably sleep even more. Juveniles are less wary than adults, sometimes to their detriment. This juvenile began periodically sleeping on a very busy bird feeder until numerous protests and disturbances by other birds prompted a change in this behavior.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Feeding on oleanderArchilochus colubris July – Texas L=3.75” ...... WS=4.5”...... WT=0.12 oz Order: Apodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds) Family: Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) Hummingbirds have very small feet and legs that are poorly adapted to walking or hopping. Consequently, they fly everywhere including to simply change their perch. It is this characteristic that led to the name Apodiformes as “apodi-” translates literally to “without feet”. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in the Eastern United States and Canada. During their migration many individuals fly non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico, a distance of approximately 500 miles. This requires fattening to nearly double their body weight before the migration.
