Ruddy Ground Dove
Ruddy Ground Dove
Columbina talpacoti
At a Glance
Very common in the tropics, this little ground dove ranges north to northern Mexico, and recently it has been showing up increasingly often in our Southwest. These visitors appear mainly in fall and often stay through the winter. They have been found at various points from southern California to southern Texas, often associating with Inca Doves.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Pigeon-like Birds, Pigeons and Doves
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Desert and Arid Habitats, Fields, Meadows, and Grasslands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets, Urban and Suburban Habitats
Region
California, Southwest, Texas
Behavior
Direct Flight
Range & Identification
Description
6.5-7" (17-18 cm). W. 16 1/2-18 (42-45 cm). Similar to Common Ground Dove, but redder overall (especially males) and slightly longer-tailed. Lacks scaly pattern on chest and pink on bill. Both ground doves have black spots on wings, but Ruddy also has them up on scapulars, above the wings.
Size
About the size of a Robin, About the size of a Sparrow
Color
Black, Brown, Gray, Orange, Pink, Red, White
Wing Shape
Rounded, Short
Tail Shape
Rounded, Short, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
Variously described as kitty-woo, per-whoop and p-ter-woo.
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