Blue-eyed Ground Dove

Overview

The blue-eyed ground dove (Columbina cyanopis) is a small bird in the family Columbidae that is endemic to the Cerrado region of Brazil. Classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, the species was rediscovered in 2015 with only a handful of individuals remaining in the wild.

Identification

• Length of 15.5 cm (6.1 in).
• Males feature purplish red heads, necks, and breasts, with browner lower bodies, white vents, and iridescent blue spots on the wings.
• Females are paler, particularly on the underparts.
• Blue eyes surrounded by bare grey skin.
• Song consists of evenly spaced, soft cooing notes ('wah', 'wuh' or 'prrah') delivered at approximately 1.5 notes per second.

Habitat

This species inhabits open savannah and grasslands within the Brazilian Cerrado. Reliable records since 1980 are limited to the states of Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul, though sightings in Minas Gerais have not occurred since 2007.

Diet

No specific information on the feeding behaviour or diet of the blue-eyed ground dove has been published, though it is presumed to feed on seeds like other members of its genus.

Did you know?

In 2023, chicks of this species were reared in captivity for the first time, following the rediscovery of the population in 2015. Wild dogs and habitat conversion to pastureland are cited as major factors forcing the doves away from their resources.