White-winged Doves in Arizona

White-winged Doves are summer residents in Arizona, arriving shortly before nesting begins in March and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on saguaro fruit, seeds.

Hot Sonoran and Mojave deserts in the south and west, with pine-oak sky islands and the Colorado Plateau rising above 7,000 ft.

Across Arizona, white-winged doves typically nest from March–August. Nest site: twig platform in trees. Females lay 1–2 eggs, incubate for 14 days, and young leave the nest after 13–16 days.

Summer highs above 110°F in Phoenix and Tucson make water the single strongest attractant; the July monsoon triggers a second breeding pulse.

• White-winged Doves don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, black cherry, american elderberry for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.

Of the regional native plants we track for Arizona, these 8 provide food or cover white-winged doves use:

Expanding across Texas cities; often visits nectar feeders in Arizona.

• Best foods: Sunflower, Millet, Cracked corn.
• In Arizona's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for white-winged doves · Best feeder for white-winged doves