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
Migration pattern: Vertical migration.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Purple-backed Thornbill
Ramphomicron microrhynchum
Small hummingbird with an extremely short, straight bill. Males are unmistakable: brilliant purple above and green below. Females are green above and whitish below with dense green spotting, especially on the flanks. Both sexes have a fairly long, notched tail. Occurs in the Andes from western Venezuela to Peru. Usually seen singly in the canopy or borders of humid elfin forest near treeline, though can gather in larger numbers at flowering trees. Also ventures into páramo; occasionally descends to lower elevations in the dry season. Seasonal movements are not understood.
Swamp Harrier
Circus approximans
Long-legged medium-sized raptor with long narrow wings. Adult has varied plumage, but note diagnostic prominent white rump. Juvenile is darker below. Flies slowly and low over open habitats with wings held in shallow V shape. Breeds in reed-beds, and occurs mainly in swamps and wetlands.
Black-fronted Ground-Tyrant
Muscisaxicola frontalis
Breeds locally in the high Andes of central Chile and adjacent Argentina; migrates north in winter. Favors bleak rocky and stony slopes, adjacent bogs, and lakeshores; often in same areas as other ground-tyrant species. Subtly distinctive with rather ashy gray plumage, droop-tipped bill, and black “mohawk” head pattern. Often looks more pot-bellied than other sleeker ground-tyrants.
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