Picui Ground Dove

The Picui Ground Dove is a slight, pale dove of open habitats across much of temperate and subtropical South America. It is often seen walking on bare ground in small groups, its pale grey-brown plumage and crisp dark wing spotting making it a familiar sight in farmland, roadsides, and scrubby grassland.

Overall plumage is pale sandy grey-brown, palest on the head and underparts. The wing coverts show a neat row of small blackish spots, and in flight the wings reveal patches of blue-grey along with white edges to the outer tail feathers. The tail is fairly short and slightly graduated, showing a dark subterminal band with pale tips on the outer feathers. Compare with the Scaled Dove, which shows a scalloped breast pattern rather than discrete wing spots, and the Eared Dove, which is notably larger with a small dark ear-mark on the face.

Males and females are similar, though males can appear slightly bluer-grey on the crown and nape while females are a touch browner overall. Juveniles are duller and more uniformly buffy, with less crisp wing spotting until after their first molt. Plumage does not change markedly with season.

Widespread across central and southern South America, including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and southern Brazil, in open grassland, scrub, and agricultural land. It is largely resident, though some populations may shift locally with food availability.

Feeds on the ground on small seeds, often in pairs or small flocks, walking with quick, short steps. Its call is a soft, low-pitched cooing repeated at intervals. Nests are flimsy stick platforms placed in low shrubs or trees. It is confiding around farms and settlements, often seen along roadsides and in open yards.