Ruddy Ground-Dove

Male 15-18 cm, female 14-18 cm. <NMale has a pale gray forehead, crown and nape. The face and throat are pinkish and rest of the bird is light chestnut brown. Two rows of black spots on the wings. Primaries black. Undertail covers dark rufous. Central tail feathers dark brown, the outer tail feathers black with light tips. <NThe female is paler with less chestnut. <NThe juvenile has yellowish spots on wings. Call a sequence of double calls "hu-u hu-u hu-u hu-u.....", the first "hu" lower and less emphasized than the latter. Forages on the ground in open areas in pairs or groups of up to 200 individuals. City populations perch on roofs and beams of houses. Lifts one wing when threatened by other birds of the same species. Also occurs in mixed groups with other small doves. Breeds at all months in trees from ground level up to 7.5 meters. Breeds also in houses, on balconies etc. Common in open scrubby areas, farms, road sides, city parks and gardens. Throughout, up to 1800 meters 4309 Calls, December 20, 2004, Rio de Janeiro. 30<91>C, some clouds: 5697 Calls, October 15, 2005, Linhares Forest Reserve, Linhares, ES, 30 degree C, sunny, with /Pitangus sulphuratus, Crotophaga ani, Geothlypis aequinoctialis . 2120 >: