Plain-breasted Ground Dove

Overview

The plain-breasted ground dove (Columbina minuta) is a small bird in the family Columbidae that lacks the scaled feather appearance of the common ground dove. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Total length of approximately 14.5–16 cm and a weight of 24–42 g, making it potentially the smallest columbid by mass.
• Dark grey to brown plumage with somewhat paler wings featuring dark violet spots and rufous underwings.
• Grey bill, pink legs, and reddish eyes.
• Distinguished from similar species by the absence of a speckled head and neck found in the common ground dove.

Habitat

Found across a widespread but discontinuous range in the Americas, from Mexico and Central America through South America to northeastern Argentina. The species prefers arid climates and inhabits dry savannas, subtropical or tropical dry shrublands, and seasonally wet or flooded lowland grasslands. It is primarily a lowland species but can occasionally be found up to 2,100 m in elevation.

Diet

This diurnal bird forages in open areas such as grasslands for grain and fruits. The food is processed in the gizzard with the aid of stones. As with other columbids, the species drinks by suction rather than collecting water in the oral cavity.

Did you know?

The male displays by tilting his head while calling with an inflated crop, which visibly expands his neck and chest regions. The young are fed with crop milk during the first few days and continue to be cared for by the parents after fledging.