Black-winged ground dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-winged ground dove |
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Metriopelia
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melanoptera
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The black-winged ground dove (Metriopelia melanoptera) is a small bird that lives in parts of South America. It belongs to the Columbidae family, which includes doves and pigeons. You can find this bird in countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
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Meet the Black-winged Ground Dove
The black-winged ground dove has two main types, called subspecies. These are M. m. melanoptera and M. m. saturatior. They are very similar but have slight differences in their looks or where they live.
What Does This Dove Look Like?
This dove is about 21 to 23 cm (8.3 to 9.1 in) long. That's about the length of a ruler! Male doves usually weigh between 89.1 to 114 g (3.14 to 4.02 oz). Females are a bit lighter, weighing about 86 to 96.1 g (3.03 to 3.39 oz).
Adult males are grayish-brown or earth-brown on their backs. They often have a soft pinkish color. Their throats are whitish, and their undersides are a fawn-pink color. When their wings are closed, you can see a white edge. The color of their eyes and the skin around them can be different for each bird.
Female doves are a duller brown on top and less pink underneath than the males. Young doves don't have the pink color. Many of their feathers have buff-colored edges. The M. m. saturatior subspecies is often darker and grayer than the other type.
Where Do These Doves Live?
The black-winged ground dove lives in the high mountains of South America. One type, M. m. melanoptera, lives year-round from central Peru down through most of Chile and western Argentina. It also breeds in Tierra del Fuego but doesn't stay there for winter.
The other type, M. m. saturatior, lives in the Andes mountains. You can find it from southwestern Colombia down to Ecuador's Azuay Province.
Their Mountain Homes
These doves live in special grassy areas. In Colombia and Ecuador, they live in places called páramo. This is a unique high-altitude grassland. In Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina, they live in puna areas.
They usually stay in grassy spots near the treeline, which is where trees stop growing due to the cold. But they often sleep in Polylepis woodlands or Puya plant stands. These doves live at very high elevations. They are found between 2,000 and 4,400 m (6,600 and 14,400 ft) high. In Chile, they can even be found from 900 to 4,900 m (3,000 to 16,100 ft)! When winter comes, they move to slightly lower, warmer places.
How Black-winged Ground Doves Live
What Do They Eat?
Black-winged ground doves look for food on the ground. They often feed in small groups. Their main food seems to be grass seeds. Scientists are still learning more about their exact diet.
How Do They Raise Their Young?
The breeding season for these doves changes depending on where they live. In Colombia and Ecuador, eggs have been found from August to October. Further south, the breeding season can last from October until February.
Their nest is a simple platform made of sticks. They usually build it in bushes, bromeliads, or cacti. Sometimes, they even build their nests right on the ground. A female dove usually lays two eggs at a time.
What Do They Sound Like?
The song of the black-winged ground dove is a series of high-pitched, double notes. It sounds like "rrree-up...rrree-up...rrreee-up...". They also make a short "piu" call.
Status of the Black-winged Ground Dove
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the black-winged ground dove. They have assessed it as a species of "Least Concern." This means that the bird is not currently in danger of disappearing. It seems to be common in many places and very numerous in others. Its mountain home is not greatly affected by humans, except for some cutting of Polylepis trees for firewood.
