A white-winged dove built a nest in my balcony. It took about two weeks for the eggs to hatch and two more for the babies to fledge.
June 28th – I stepped out for better cell reception to this!
What bird is this, I wondered …

A white-winged dove! Identifying marks: bright blue ring around the eye, black streak on cheek, and white-edged wing that gives the bird its name.

July 9th at dawn
I came home drenched from a sudden downpour to a sight that tugged at my heart.

Mom is sopping wet and hanging on in thunderstorm gusts and heavy rain. The balcony has no awning, so there’s no protection from rain. July 12th

All dry and fluffy the next day – July 13th

Is that fuzzball under mom a baby bird? July 14th

Two little heads and two little tails – July 17th
Why this bird chose a fourth-floor balcony grate to have babies beats me.

I gratefully accept this gift …

… of a beautiful dove and new life so close

White-winged dove profile story 🙂

July 19th

So big so fast. So beautiful! July 21st

Family portrait – July 25th

July 26th – Last pic of the three together before the baby birds fledged
See how the story ends! Check out the full album of photos taken June 28th to July 28th.
More about this beautiful bird:
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: White-Winged Dove
Beauty of Birds: White-Winged Doves
I’ll forever love my very first bird guide, All the Birds of North America. It is awesome! There’s the Merlin Bird ID App, too.
Note: All close-ups are crops of longer shots (to give the birdies their space).