Don Balke: White-winged Dove

Artist: Don Balke
1932 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1999
Image Size: 12 by 9.75 inches
Overall Size: 12 by 13 inches
Medium: Water Color on Cold Press Illustration Board

White-winged Doves inhabit deserts, farmland and open woodlands, and are often seen in flocks. This bird feeds on wild seeds, shrubs, acorns, nuts, cactus fruits and occasionally insects. The White-winged Dove sports grayish-brown plumage with large white patches on its wings. A long, fan-shaped tail is a distinct identifying mark, making this species easy to spot in the field. Because the White-winged Dove inhabits arid regions of the American Southwest, it sometimes flies for miles to find water, usually arriving at the watering hole in the early morning or late evening. These scarce sources of water attract not only songbirds and doves, but predators as well, so the White-winged Dove seldom flies directly to the water's edge, but lands first in nearby trees or shrubs. After surveying the scene, it warily approaches the water and may swallow one or two long drafts before taking flight again. In breeding season, this bird prefers dense mesquite, mature citrus groves or saguaro-paloverde deserts. The nest is a loose structure of twigs, sticks and weed stems located in a forked branch of a low-lying tree or shrub. The White-winged Dove raises about two broods a season. After breeding, some birds travel south, while others may wander north as far as Colorado, and east all the way to the "Sunshine State" of Florida.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover of the U.S. 33¢ White-winged Dove stamp issued April 6, 1999.

Artwork Copyright © 1999 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB16355

US$ Price: $990.00

Easy Purchase Plan: Buy this ArtworkOriginal with 8 monthly payments. Payments will be charged automatically as due to your Credit Card.

How to buy Original Artwork:

If you would like to buy Original Artwork, there are several convenient ways:

Use The Artwork Gallery: simply click the "Hang in Gallery" for pictures of interest. This puts the picture in your Personal Artwork Gallery, where you can view or remove it. When you've finished hanging artwork in your Personal Artwork Gallery, Go to your Personal Artwork Gallery and select an option for contacting us or ordering from us from there.

To get in touch with us directly about a piece of Artwork by Phone note the SKU and dial TOLL FREE 1-800-287-4079 from throughout U.S. and Canada.