Ruddy Ground-Dove

Columbina talpacotiOrder: COLUMBIFORMESFamily: Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)

Overview

Ruddy Ground-Dove: Small dove with rufous upperparts, pale pink-gray underparts, and pale gray head. Wings are rufous with black spots and bill is gray with a dark tip. Legs and feet are pink-gray. Forages on ground for seeds and berries. Fast low direct flight with rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Ruddy Ground-Dove: Found in Mexico, Central America, and most of South America to northern Chile and Argentina. Preferred habitats include woodlands, gardens, cultivated fields, marshlands, and forest edges.

Listen:

Voice Text

"per-woop, per-woop", "wooh" "woop"

Ruddy Ground-Dove

● Song: "per-woop, per-woop", "wooh" "woop"

● Foraging & Feeding: Ruddy Ground-Dove: Eats seeds and berries; forages on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Ruddy Ground-Dove: Two white eggs are laid in a nest made of twigs and grass, and built from 3 to 35 feet above the ground in a tree or bush. Incubation ranges from 12 to 13 days and is carried out by both parents (female at night, male during the day).

● Similar species: Ruddy Ground-Dove: Common Ground-Dove has black bill with pink base, brown upperparts, and pink-brown underparts.

Flight Pattern

Fast low direct flight on flashing wings.

Ruddy Ground-Dove Breeding Male Body Illustration

● Range & Habitat: Ruddy Ground-Dove: Found in Mexico, Central America, and most of South America to northern Chile and Argentina. Preferred habitats include woodlands, gardens, cultivated fields, marshlands, and forest edges.

^BreedingMonogamous, Colonial

^PopulationCasual in US

^MigrationNonmigratory

^Weight1.7 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America