How long do white-winged doves live?
The oldest White-winged Dove on record lived to 25 years, a record from a bird of unrecorded origin. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild white-winged doves live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 25 years
- Record from
- Bird of unrecorded origin
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 1–2 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Size
- 11 in, 4.4–6.3 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 3 of 6
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a White-winged Dove can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
White-winged doves usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 1–2 eggs and raises 1–2 per season, with eggs taking 14 days to hatch.
How white-winged doves compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other pigeons and doves on this site.
- Rock Pigeon35 years
- Mourning Dove31.3 years
- Band-tailed Pigeon18.5 years
- Eurasian Collared-Dove17.9 years
- Inca Dove13.3 years
More about white-winged doves
Frequently asked
How long do white-winged doves live?
The longest-lived White-winged Dove on record reached 25 years, recorded from a bird of unrecorded origin. Most wild white-winged doves live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a White-winged Dove when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest White-winged Dove ever recorded?
25 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a White-winged Dove raise in a year?
Pairs lay 1–2 eggs and raise 1–2 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info