Croaking ground dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Croaking ground dove |
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Columbina
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cruziana
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The croaking ground dove (Columbina cruziana) is a small bird. It belongs to the Columbidae family, which includes doves and pigeons. You can find this bird in parts of South America. It lives in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Contents
About the Croaking Ground Dove
What Kind of Bird Is It?
The croaking ground dove is a unique bird. It is sometimes thought of as a "sister species" to the Picui ground dove. This means they are very closely related. The croaking ground dove is a monotypic species. This means it does not have different subspecies.
What Does It Look Like?
The croaking ground dove is about 15 cm (5.9 in) long. That's about the length of a pen. Males are a bit heavier than females. Males weigh around 52 g (1.8 oz). Females weigh about 46 g (1.6 oz).
Male and Female Differences
The adult male has a bluish-gray head. Its upper body is brownish-gray. The feathers in the middle of its tail are darker gray. The outer tail feathers are black with white tips. When its wings are closed, you can see a dark bar and lines of dark spots. Its chest and belly are a pretty mauve-pink color. The male's eye is red with a white ring around it. The skin around its eye is bare and yellow. Its bill is quite long and bright yellow near its base.
The adult female looks a bit different. Her head is brown. The markings on her wings are not as strong as the male's. Young birds look similar to the female. But their feathers have buffy, light brown tips.
Where Does It Live?
Its Home Range
The croaking ground dove lives near the Pacific coast. Its range starts in southwestern Colombia. It then goes through Ecuador and Peru. It reaches as far south as Chile's Tarapacá Region. In Peru, it also lives further inland. You can find it in the Marañón Valley.
What Kind of Places Does It Like?
This bird prefers dry and semi-dry areas. It likes places with scrub bushes and thickets near rivers. You can often see it in places where people live. This includes farmland, gardens, and parks. Even though it mostly lives in low areas, it can be found high up. Some birds live as high as 2,400 m (7,900 ft) in certain spots.
How Does It Behave?
What Does It Eat?
The croaking ground dove looks for food on the ground. It mainly eats seeds. However, scientists have not published many details about its exact diet.
How Does It Raise Its Young?
Croaking ground doves have been seen breeding in most months. This is especially true in areas where people live in southwestern Ecuador. They usually build their nests in bushes or trees. Sometimes, they also nest on the ground. They can even nest on building ledges, dirt banks, and low cliffs. A female usually lays two eggs. Sometimes, she might lay one or three eggs.
What Does Its Song Sound Like?
The croaking ground dove has a very unique song. It sounds different from other doves. Its song is a low-pitched, burry sound. It can be described as rrRwl. It also makes soft grunts and growls.
Is It Endangered?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) checks on animal populations. They have said the croaking ground dove is of "Least Concern." This means it is not considered endangered. In fact, it seems to be common and growing in numbers. This is partly because it can live well in areas changed by humans.
See also
In Spanish: Tortolita para niños
