Bird Guide

Eared Dove vs Zenaida Dove

Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata)

Eared Dove

Zenaida auriculata

Medium110 gUrban

The eared dove is 24 cm (9.4 in) long with a long, wedge-shaped tail, and weighs normally about 112 g (4.0 oz). Adult males have mainly olive-brown upperpart plumage, with black spots on the wings. The head has a grey crown, black line behind the eye, and the blue-black on the lower ear coverts. These black markings give the species its English and specific names. The underparts are vinous, and the tail is tipped with cinnamon. The bill is black and the legs dark red. The female is duller than the male, and immature birds are greyish-brown, very dull, with pale barring.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Enrique González · CC BY 4.0
Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita)

Zenaida Dove

Zenaida aurita

Medium156 gForest

The Zenaida dove is approximately 28–30 cm (11–12 in) in length. It looks very similar to the mourning dove, but is smaller in size, has a shorter, more rounded tail, and is a bit more darkly colored. It is also distinguished from the mourning dove by showing white on the trailing edge of its wings while in flight. The mourning dove does not have the white trailing edge.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: ImagePerson · 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: Eared Dove and Zenaida Dove.