Black-winged Ground Dove
Metriopelia melanoptera
Rather plain, medium-sized dove of the Andes and foothills. Often fairly common on open grassy and stony slopes, at bogs, around animal corrals, and villages in agricultural areas. Usually in pairs or flocks, sometimes mixed with sierra finches and other seed-eating birds. Feeds on ground, but often perches on prominent rocks; flushes with a loud rattling wing whistle. Note diagnostic orange teardrop under eye and white “shoulder” flashes that show best in flight. Smaller than Eared Dove, without big black spots on wings.
Identification
The black-winged ground dove is 21 to 23 cm (8.3 to 9.1 in) long. Males weigh 89.1 to 114 g (3.14 to 4.02 oz) and females 86 to 96.1 g (3.03 to 3.39 oz). The nominate adult male is grayish brown or earth brown above with a faint pink tinge. The throat is whitish and the underparts fawn pink with gray flanks. The closed wing shows a white edge and some pale gray. The eye color is highly variable as is the bare skin that surrounds it. The adult female's upperparts are a duller brown than the male's and the underparts less pink. Juveniles do not have the adults' pink tinge, and many feathers have buff edges. M. m. saturatior differs from the nominate by being darker and grayer above and less pink below.<p>The nominate subspecies of black-winged ground dove is a year-round resident from central Peru and adjacent Bolivia south through most of Chile and western Argentina. It breeds but does not winter on Tierra del Fuego. M. m. saturatior is found in the Andes of southwestern Colombia south to Ecuador's Azuay Province.<p>The black-winged ground dove inhabits páramo in Colombia and Ecuador and puna in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. It is typically found in grassy areas near treeline but roosts in Polylepis woodland and Puya stands. In much of its range it occurs between 2,000 and 4,400 m (6,600 and 14,400 ft) but from 900 to 4,900 m (3,000 to 16,100 ft) in Chile. It moves to the lower elevations in winter.
Taxonomy
The black-winged ground dove has two subspecies, the nominate M. m. melanoptera and M. m. saturatior.
- Scientific name
- Metriopelia melanoptera
- Authority
- (Molina, 1782)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Metriopelia
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
The black-winged ground dove feeds on the ground in small flocks. Its primary food appears to be grass seeds but details are lacking.<p>The black-winged ground dove's breeding season varies with latitude. In Colombia and Ecuador, eggs have been found between August and October. In the south the season continues past October to February. Its nest is a fragile platform of sticks, usually in bushes, bromeliads, or cacti but sometimes on the ground. The clutch size is two.<p>The black-winged ground dove's song is a "series of relatively high-pitched, double notes 'rrree-up...rrree-up...rrreee-up...'." It also gives a short "piu" call.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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