Range, Population, and Game Status of the Western White-Winged Dove in Arizona

Abstract

In 1937 provisions of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act were extended through ratification of a treaty with Mexico, bringing within the sphere of Federal regulation for the first time some 90 species of southerly range. One of these was the white-winged dove of the southwest; two races are recognized by taxonomists, the eastern form, Melopelia asiatica asiatica, ranging from the lower Rio Grande Valley southward into Mexico and into the West Indies, the western form, Melopelia asiatica mearnsi, inhabiting the desert area of southwestern New Mexico, southern Arizona, and southeastern California southward into Mexico and Lower California (A.O.U. Check-List, 1931). The study here reported upon was undertaken to assemble information on the white-winged dove that would provide a satisfactory basis for the preparation of federal regulations as to plose and open seasons on this important game species. In Arizona, according to State Game Warden W. H. Sawtelle, the sale of licenses for the hunting of white-wings constitutes one of the leading sources of revenue for the department. Authors who have contributed to information on the western white-wing, include: Bendire (1892), Swarth (1915, 1920), Grinnell (1914), Bailey (1928), Dawson (1923), and Wetmore (1919, 1920). Bent (1932) summarized their findings with his customary accuracy. Wetmore reported most of the available det ils as to the life history of the bird.