A very small dove (smaller than a robin) with distinctive scaled appearance.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The common ground dove is a small bird that inhabits the southern United States, parts of Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. It is considered to be the smallest dove that inhabits the United States. As its name suggests, the bird spends the majority of its time on the ground walking but still has the ability to fly.
Source: Wikipedia — Common ground dove Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Tiny, stubby dove with a scaly-looking head and breast, a short tail, a pink-based bill, and rufous flashes in the wings in flight.
Similar species. Inca Dove is slightly larger with a long, white-edged tail and a scaly look overall; the Ground Dove is tinier and shorter-tailed with rufous wings.
Voice. A soft, repeated, rising 'woo-oo' or 'coo-oo', monotonously given.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Seeds, grains, fruits.
Behavior. North America's smallest dove; a tame bird of open sandy ground in the South that forages for seeds in pairs or small groups, flushing with a soft whirr of rufous wings.
§ Range
Southern US, Caribbean, Mexico
§ Habitat
Open habitats, agricultural areas
§ Threats
Habitat loss to row crops.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the common ground dove is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Maintain open agricultural habitats. Plant native plantings.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Common ground dove
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Columbina passerina
- IUCN Red List — search for Columbina passerina
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Columbina passerina
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
