whitewinged

Whitewinged is a compound epithet used in the common names of various organisms to denote white coloration on the wings. It is not a taxonomic group, and its use varies by region and language. In zoology, especially ornithology, several species bear this element in their English names, reflecting a distinctive plumage feature that aids in identification, camouflage, or signaling.

Examples include the white-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica), native to the Americas; the white-winged crossbill (Loxia leucoptera), found across boreal forests of North America and Eurasia; the white-winged tern (Chlidonias leucopterus), a migratory waterbird of Eurasia; and the white-winged scoter (Melanitta deglandi), a sea duck of northern coastal waters. The descriptor can also refer to wing patterns in other groups, and in some cases the white patches are seasonally exposed or present only in juveniles.

Because whitewinged is an informal descriptive term rather than a taxonomic rank, it can lead to ambiguity and overlap with similarly named species. For precise identification, scientists rely on scientific names, distribution, morphology, and field guides.

See also: White-winged (disambiguation).