Common Ground-Dove

Columbina passerinaOrder: COLUMBIFORMESFamily: Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)

Overview

Common Ground-Dove: Small, rounded dove with plain gray-brown back and scaled pink-gray head and breast. Eyes are red and bill is orange-red with black tip. The wings show rufous primaries in flight. Tail is short. Legs and feet are pink. Forages on ground. Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Common Ground-Dove: Resident in southern parts of California, Arizona, and Texas, and east to southern North Carolina. Preferred habitats include fields, gardens, farmlands, and roadsides.

Listen:

Voice Text

"coo-oo, coo-oo, coo-oo"

Common Ground-Dove

● Song: "coo-oo, coo-oo, coo-oo"

● Foraging & Feeding: Common Ground-Dove: Feeds on seeds, berries, and occasionally insects; forages on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Common Ground Dove: Two or three white eggs are laid in a nest on or close to the ground, often hidden in a tuft of grass or among weeds. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Common Ground-Dove: Juvenile Mourning Dove is larger, longer-tailed, and lack rufous primaries. Inca Dove is longer-tailed and scaled on upperparts and underparts.

Flight Pattern

Rapid direct flight.

● Range & Habitat: Common Ground-Dove: Resident in southern parts of California, Arizona, and Texas, and east to southern North Carolina. Preferred habitats include fields, gardens, farmlands, and roadsides.

^BreedingMonogamous, Mates for life

^PopulationDeclining

^MigrationNonmigratory

^Weight1.1 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America