Scaled dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scaled dove |
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| In Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Columbina
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| Species: |
squammata
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| Synonyms | |
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Scardafella squammata (but see text) |
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The scaled dove (Columbina squammata), also called the scaly dove, is a small bird found in parts of South America. You can spot it in countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Colombia, French Guiana, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
These doves like to live in places with lots of plants, such as dry or moist shrublands. They also live in grasslands that get wet sometimes, and even in forests that have been changed by people.
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About the Scaled Dove
This dove is about 18 to 22 centimeters long, which is roughly the size of a small ruler. It weighs between 48 and 60 grams, like a few strawberries.
It has grayish-brown feathers on its back and a soft pinkish-gray color on its face and chest. Its throat is white. When its wings are closed, you can see a white spot on them. Its tail is dark, but the tips of the tail feathers are white. This creates a white band on the side of its tail that you can see when the bird flies.
The scaled dove has dark eyes, pink legs, and a gray beak. Its most special feature is its "scaly" look. This pattern comes from the dark edges of its feathers, which help it blend in with its surroundings. When it flies, you might also notice a white stripe at the base of its wings.
What's in a Name?
The scientific name for this bird, Columbina squammata, comes from Latin.
- Columbina means "dove-like," from the Latin word columba for "dove."
- Squammata means "scaled," which perfectly describes the bird's unique feather pattern.
In Brazil, people have many fun names for this dove. One interesting name is "rolinha-cascavel," which means "rattlesnake dove." This name comes from two things:
- The dove's scaly feathers look a bit like a rattlesnake's scales.
- The sound its wings make when it flies can sound like a rattlesnake's rattle!
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the scaled dove:
- Columbina squammata squammata is found in much of eastern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina.
- Columbina squammata ridgwayi lives along the northeastern coast of Colombia, in Venezuela, and on the Margarita and Trinidad Islands. This type has more black tips on its feathers than the other one.
Scaled Dove Behavior
Scaled doves are usually quiet birds. They often walk in pairs or small groups along the edges of forests, open fields, and gardens. They tend to avoid places that are too open or too dense with trees.
You usually only hear them when they are singing from a hidden spot. The only other sound they make is the noise from their wings when they take off quickly. In some parts of Brazil, like Campinas, they are quite shy and are heard more often than seen. But in other cities, like Brasília, they are more used to people and might even scratch for food on sidewalks, just like other doves.
Some Ornithologists (bird scientists) and bird watchers have noticed that the number of scaled doves might be going down in some areas. They think this could be because of competition with another bird called the eared dove, which has been spreading and growing in numbers.
Reproduction and Nests
Scaled doves build their nests from twigs, shaping them like a cup. They usually place their nests about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6 feet) above the ground, but sometimes they might even build them on the ground. A female scaled dove typically lays two white eggs.
What They Eat
These doves find their food on the ground, walking with their bellies almost touching the dirt. If something scares them, they quickly fly up to a nearby tree for safety. One of their favorite foods is the fruit from a tree called Trema micrantha.
