Bird Guide

Common Ground Dove vs Picui Ground Dove

Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina)

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Small35 gShrubland

The common ground dove is North America's smallest and one of the world's smallest by mass. This species ranges from 15–18 cm (5.9–7.1 in) in length, spans 27 cm (11 in) across the wings, and weighs 26–40 g (0.92–1.41 oz). The common ground dove has a yellow beak with a black tip. Feathers surrounding the beak are pink in colour. The feathers on the head and the upper breast have a scale-like appearance. The tail feathers are very short and similar colour to the back. The plumage on the back of the bird is brown. The coverts and wing feathers are also brown but have black spotting on them.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Alan Vernon · CC BY 2.0
Picui Ground Dove (Columbina picui)

Picui Ground Dove

Columbina picui

Small47 gUrban

The Picui ground dove is 18 cm (7.1 in) long and weighs 42 to 59 g (1.5 to 2.1 oz). The nominate adult male's forehead and throat are whitish with a narrow black stripe in front of the eye. Its crown and nape are gray that becomes brownish gray on the shoulders, back, rump, and central tail feathers. The folded wing appears pinkish fawn with two white bands bordered by black. The neck and breast are pinkish gray and the belly white. The adult female is duller with less pink. Voice: The Picui ground dove's song is "a series of evenly-spaced, low-pitched cooing notes...cuWOOo...cuWOOo...cuWOOo...".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Gonzalo Roget · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Common Ground Dove and Picui Ground Dove.