Scientific Name: Zenaida asiatica

Residency: Year-round in southern Arizona; in summertime, they also reside in central Arizona, horizontally across the state.

Diet: Eats weed, flower and other plant seeds, acorns, cactus fruit, and waste grain.

Predators: Nest predators include Great-horned Owl, Gila Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Great-tailed Grackel, and ringtail. Hawks and raptors occasionally take adults. Will perform broken wing display to lead predators away from nest.

Nesting: A 4-25 ft. high nest is constructed of twigs, sticks, grass, and weed stems. The nest is placed at the fork of a horizontal branch, or on top of a deserted nest in a tree. Lays one to four creamy white eggs (2-3 broods per year).

Nesting Records:

Notes: May roost and nest colonially, particularly in mesquite thickets.

Photo: to be uploaded.