Bare-eyed Ground Dove
Metriopelia morenoi
Medium-sized, terrestrial dove of the high Andes in NW Argentina. Note bright orange-red facial skin and plain wings. From other ground doves in range by plain wings and extensive bare skin around the eye. Prefers rocky slopes and grasslands, but fairly tolerant to human settlements.
Identification
Moreno's ground dove is about 17 cm (6.7 in) long. The adult's upperparts are mostly dull brown with a grayish head and shoulders. Its throat is light gray darkening to brownish gray on the breast and belly, buffy at the vent, and reddish brown on the undertail coverts. The outer tail feathers are black with white tips. Its eye is blue surrounded by bright orange bare skin that in turn is surrounded by a thin black line. The sexes are essentially alike except that the female's eye surround is paler. The juvenile's plumage is similar to the adults' but many feathers have rufous fringes.
Taxonomy
The Moreno's ground dove and its sister species bare-faced ground dove (Metriopelia ceciliae) were previously placed in genus Gymnopelia. It is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Metriopelia morenoi
- Authority
- (Sharpe, 1902)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Metriopelia
Range and habitat
Moreno's ground dove is found only in northwestern Argentina. It inhabits temperate and puna grassland characterized by cactus, scrub, and at lower elevation scattered trees. In elevation it ranges from at least 1,800 to 3,200 m (5,900 to 10,500 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Moreno's ground dove is known to feed on the ground, usually in small groups, but its diet has not been documented.<p>Moreno's ground dove lays its two eggs in cavities in earthen banks. No other information about its breeding phenology has been published.<p>Though the bare-faced ground dove's vocalizations are not well known, it "has been recorded producing cooing calls: a series of 3–5 soft and nasal 'cuEec cuEec cuEec', as well as a faster and deeper sounding series of 'coo coo coo coo coo'."
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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