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GENUS COLUMBINA

(4 species). Very small, easily overlooked ground doves of open habitats,

often along roadsides; perch readily on fences and in low trees. Flush explosively from ground with

variable wing whirr; all species have rusty wing flashes. Frequently form flocks, and species mix readily.

INCA DOVE  Columbina inca 20–22cm. Open and semi-open areas, from

town streets and brushy woodland to ranchland, beaches, especially in drier

regions. Mainly in pairs or small groups. Feeds on ground where mixes readily

with Common and Ruddy Ground Doves; often perches on roadside wires.

Distinctive, with overall scaly plumage, long squared tail with white sides;

bright rusty wing patches flash in flight. Cf. juv. Mourning Dove. SOUNDS: Wings

make whirring rattle when flushed. Song a pair of hollow, slightly burry,

overslurred coos, whooh pooh, every 1–2 secs, often repeated steadily; less often

a faster, burry h’p’wuurrr.…STATUS: Common to fairly common on n. Pacific

slope, inland to 1500m in Central Valley; uncommon and local but range expanding s. along Pacific slope

and into Caribbean lowlands. (Mexico and sw. US to w. Panama.)

COMMON GROUND DOVE  Columbina passerina 16–17cm. Open and semi-

open areas, from towns to ranchland, especially in drier regions. Feeds on

ground, mainly as pairs or small groups, where inconspicuous until flushed;

mixes readily with Inca Dove and Ruddy Ground Dove. Note scaly neck and

breast (old name of Scaly-breasted Ground Dove much more appropriate),

orange to pinkish bill base; dark marks on upperwing coverts more extensive

than Ruddy and Plain-breasted Ground Doves. Flight quicker, slightly more

bounding than Ruddy Ground Dove, when appears overall paler and grayer,

with pale band across upperwing coverts, dark secondaries; lacks black axillars.

SOUNDS: Song a low hooting whuuh’ or slightly disyllabic h’wooh, repeated steadily every 1–1.5 secs.

Flushes with quiet wing whirr. STATUS: Common to fairly common on n. Pacific slope; in smaller numbers

to 1500m in Central Valley and spills over locally to n. Caribbean slope. (Mexico and s. US to S America.)

PLAIN-BREASTED GROUND DOVE  Columbina minuta 14.5–15.5cm. Low­

land savanna and ranchland with scattered bushes and trees. Feeds on ground,

mainly as pairs or small groups, when sometimes mixes with other ground

doves. Mostly inconspicuous and overlooked easily, but sings from low perch

such as fence or shrub. Note small size, plain neck and breast, purple sheen to

dark upperpart markings; bill base of Plain-breasted can be dull pinkish, cf.

Common Ground Dove. Appreciably smaller and shorter-tailed than female

Ruddy Ground Dove, grayer overall with dark secondaries, lacks black axillars.

SOUNDS: Song a low hooting wüp or w’üp repeated steadily every 0.5–1 secs;

notes much shorter and song faster-paced than Common Ground Dove. STATUS: Uncommon and local

on Pacific slope and in adjacent n. Caribbean lowlands, disjunctly near Turrialba; to 800m. (Mexico to

S America.)

RUDDY GROUND DOVE  Columbina talpacoti 17–18cm. Open and semi-

open areas, from towns to ranchland, especially in humid regions. Commonest

ground dove in many areas, locally in flocks. Feeds on ground, mainly as pairs

or small groups, and mixes readily with other ground doves. Male distinctive,

with bright ruddy plumage, contrasting blue-gray head. Female best told by

relatively large size, plain neck and breast, relatively warm plumage tones,

mostly rusty secondaries; also note diagnostic black axillars, sometimes visible

in flight; cf. Common and Plain-breasted Ground Doves, female Blue Ground

Dove. SOUNDS: Song a 2-syllable hooting per-woop or h’woop, repeated steadily

every 0.5–1 secs, quieter 1st note not always audible at a distance, when cf. Plain-breasted Ground Dove;

at times varied to 3-syllable h’t’woop. STATUS: Fairly common to common on both slopes, to 1500m; less

numerous in drier nw. lowlands. (Mexico to S America.)