In addition to the white greater wing coverts, note the orange eyes and blue orbital skin This species was formerly restricted to arid deserts, but has expanded rapidly into settled areas across the southern United States where now locally common. They are very vocal at this time of year and we often heard their constant "Who cooks for you?" song. This is presumably the nominate race which occurs from Texas to Nicaragua, through the Greater Antilles and Bahamas and recently in Florida. It is said to be smaller and darker than Z. a. mearnsi which replaces it in arid regions of the far western United States east to the Trans Pecos, but differences are slight and individual variation is high. An isolated population restricted to arid areas along the west coast of Peru and adjacent Ecuador and Chile is now recognized as a separate species, West Peruvian Dove (Zenaida meloda), sometimes called "Pacific Dove." In comparison with White-winged Dove, the West Peruvian Dove is more deeply colored overall. More significant is its very different vocalization, "coo-coo-LEE" from which it gets its local name, "Cuculí.".
