Plain-breasted Ground Dove Columbina minuta Scientific name definitions

The Plain-breasted Ground-Dove has a large but discontinuous distribution, from southern Mexico south through Central America to Colombia, over northern South America to Trinidad and the Guianas, and in central Brazil south to northeast Argentina, as well as on the Pacific coast of Ecuador and Peru. Both sexes of this ground-dwelling dove are most likely to be confused with the more widespread and familiar Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti) and Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina). Compared to the former, the present species is much duller and less rufescent, whereas the latter species has a distinctively speckled appearance to the head and neck. The Plain-breasted Ground-Dove is usually found in rather arid areas, including second growth and cultivation, and has been seen to at least 2100 above sea level, but is usually encountered in the lowlands or foothills.

Male 14–15 cm, female 14·5–16 cm; 26–42·2 g (1 Binford, L. C. (1989). A Distributional Survey of the Birds of the Mexican State of Oaxaca. Ornithological Monographs 43. American Ornithologists’ Union. Washington, DC, USA. Close ). Very similar in coloration and markings to C. passerina but lacks scaling on head and breast, and even smaller; rufous on primaries less extensive, confined to inner webs; redder feet. Female C. talpacoti also is very similar to present species, but is larger with a proportionately longer tail and more rufescent wings and rump (2 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ). Forehead, crown and nape bluish grey; face and throat pinkish, darkening on breast and underparts; undertail-coverts white with grey centres; iris yellow, yellow-brown or orange; bill grey or brown; legs and feet pink to red. Female paler, being rather ashy grey-brown on underparts (2 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ). Juvenile like female though even duller and more greyish brown (2 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ), but mantle scaled narrowly with buff and chest with cinnamon, and wing-covert spots less obvious and blackish (2 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ). Races differ mainly in coloration: <em>elaeodes</em> darker fawn-brown above than nominate and deeper vinous-pink below (2 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ).

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Lowlands and foothills, in arid sandy areas with scrub, light acacia woodland with open understorey (2 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ), second growth and cultivated areas in Central and South America; also found in savanna and grassy fields; in Colombia, particularly in brushy ecotone between woodland and grassland. Occasionally perches low in bushes. In Central America found from sea-level up to 750 m, but regular to 1400 m in South America and occasionally to 2300 m in Peru (3 Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, D. F. Lane, J. P. O’Neill, and T. A. Parker (2007). Birds of Peru. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ).

Generally considered to be resident throughout range, but in savannas of S Guyana was described as “ubiquitous” in Oct–Nov 2000, but was apparently completely absent from the same area in Mar–Apr of same year (4 Robbins, M. B., M. J. Braun, and D. W. Finch (2004). Avifauna of the Guyana southern Rupununi, with comparisons to other savannas of northern South America. Ornitología Neotropical 15(2):173–200. Close ). Very common in Pernambuco and N Bahia (NE Brazil) during early part of year (5 Omena Junior, R. and Cohn-Haft, M. (2008). Primeiro registro da rolinhade-asa-canela Columbina minuta para Manaus, estado do Amazonas, Brasil. Cotinga. 29: 180-181. Close ). Also, there are occasional records outside the known range in Venezuela (6 Azpiroz, A. B., and A. Rodríguez-Ferraro (2006). Noteworthy observations of the birds of Falcón state, northwestern Venezuela. Ornitología Neotropical 17(3):445–451. Close ), where in at least parts of the llanos the species appears to virtually disappear during wet season (7 Bosque, C., Pacheco, M.A. and García-Amado, M.A. (2004). The annual cycle of Columbina ground-doves in seasonal savannas of Venezuela. J. Field Orn.. 75(1): 1-17. Close ).

Very little known, but appears to feed mainly on grass seeds; the stomach contents of a bird in Panama predominantly comprised seeds of Sporobolus indicus (8 Wetmore, A. (1968). The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 2. Columbidae (Pigeons) to Picidae (Woodpeckers). Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 150. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA. Close ). Forages in fields, scrubby edges or in undergrowth (2 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ), in pairs or singly , rarely in small flocks of up to 10–15 birds.

Song is a series of evenly-spaced, low-pitched upslurred cooing notes “whoop....whoop....whoop...” at a rate of c. 1.2–1·6 notes per second. Length of notes is clearly shorter than length of pauses (unlike C. passerina).

Suspected to be circumannual breeder in Colombia (2 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ) and Costa Rica, mainly May–Jul in Pacific NW, and Jan in Parrita; Mar–Sept in Trinidad, with peak in Jun, and probably year-round (in both dry and wet seasons) in Venezuela and Guianas, with peak in Apr–Nov (2 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ); in C Amazonian Brazil, nest in Apr (5 Omena Junior, R. and Cohn-Haft, M. (2008). Primeiro registro da rolinhade-asa-canela Columbina minuta para Manaus, estado do Amazonas, Brasil. Cotinga. 29: 180-181. Close ); in Panama, nests found Mar–Jun; in Mexico, females in breeding condition in Apr (Veracruz) (9 Winker, K., R. J. Oehlenschlager, M. A. Ramos, R. M. Zink, J. H. Rappole, and D. W. Warner (1992). Avian distribution and abundance records for the Sierra de los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico. Wilson Bulletin 104(4):699–718. Close ) and nests in May (Oaxaca) (1 Binford, L. C. (1989). A Distributional Survey of the Birds of the Mexican State of Oaxaca. Ornithological Monographs 43. American Ornithologists’ Union. Washington, DC, USA. Close ) and Aug (Yucatán) (10 Chablé-Santos, J., Sélem-Salas, C. and Hernández-Betancourt, S. (2011). Nuevos registros de Columbina minuta, Pionus senilis y Basileuterus culicivorus en el estado de Yucatán, México. Cotinga. 33: 120–121. Close ). Some authorities describe males performing a short display flight from a low perch on stiffly held wings (8 Wetmore, A. (1968). The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 2. Columbidae (Pigeons) to Picidae (Woodpeckers). Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 150. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA. Close ). Nests  similar to those of C. passerina but smaller (c. 12–13 cm in diameter (10 Chablé-Santos, J., Sélem-Salas, C. and Hernández-Betancourt, S. (2011). Nuevos registros de Columbina minuta, Pionus senilis y Basileuterus culicivorus en el estado de Yucatán, México. Cotinga. 33: 120–121. Close ) sometimes with slight central depression of c. 7 cm) (8 Wetmore, A. (1968). The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 2. Columbidae (Pigeons) to Picidae (Woodpeckers). Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 150. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA. Close ), a fragile platform of grasses, stems and rootlets lined with feathers (2 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ); in Trinidad, nest often placed on a pad of feathers; nests on ground or up to 9 m above ground in tree or shrub; constructed by both sexes (5 Omena Junior, R. and Cohn-Haft, M. (2008). Primeiro registro da rolinhade-asa-canela Columbina minuta para Manaus, estado do Amazonas, Brasil. Cotinga. 29: 180-181. Close ). Clutch two white eggs  , size 19·4–21 mm × 14·8–15·6 mm (8 Wetmore, A. (1968). The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 2. Columbidae (Pigeons) to Picidae (Woodpeckers). Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 150. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA. Close ) (elaeodes) or 24 mm × 17 mm (11 Lima, P.C., Grantsau, R., Rocha Lima, R.C.F., Lima Neto, T.N.C. and Souza Silva, L.E. (2010). Ninhos de espécies ameaçadas, endêmicas e outras de comportamento reprodutivo pouco conhecido, na pátria da arara-azul-de-lear (Anodorhynchus leari) (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), destacando-se novos dados sobre o comportamento reprodutivo do besourinho-de-cauda-larga (Phaethornis gounellei) (Apodiformes: Trochilidae) a descrição do ninho da choca-do-nordeste (Sakesphorus cristatus) (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) e do jacucaca (Penelope jacucaca) (Galliformes: Cracidae). Atualidades Orn.. 153: 69–161. Close ) (minuta), mass 3 (10 Chablé-Santos, J., Sélem-Salas, C. and Hernández-Betancourt, S. (2011). Nuevos registros de Columbina minuta, Pionus senilis y Basileuterus culicivorus en el estado de Yucatán, México. Cotinga. 33: 120–121. Close )–3·4 g (11 Lima, P.C., Grantsau, R., Rocha Lima, R.C.F., Lima Neto, T.N.C. and Souza Silva, L.E. (2010). Ninhos de espécies ameaçadas, endêmicas e outras de comportamento reprodutivo pouco conhecido, na pátria da arara-azul-de-lear (Anodorhynchus leari) (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), destacando-se novos dados sobre o comportamento reprodutivo do besourinho-de-cauda-larga (Phaethornis gounellei) (Apodiformes: Trochilidae) a descrição do ninho da choca-do-nordeste (Sakesphorus cristatus) (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) e do jacucaca (Penelope jacucaca) (Galliformes: Cracidae). Atualidades Orn.. 153: 69–161. Close ); incubation  13–14 days, with young fledging in 12–14 days (2 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ). Adult may perform broken-wing distraction display around nest (8 Wetmore, A. (1968). The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 2. Columbidae (Pigeons) to Picidae (Woodpeckers). Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 150. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA. Close ). At least in parts of Venezuela, there is a sexual imbalance amongst adults in favour of males (1·87 : 1) (7 Bosque, C., Pacheco, M.A. and García-Amado, M.A. (2004). The annual cycle of Columbina ground-doves in seasonal savannas of Venezuela. J. Field Orn.. 75(1): 1-17. Close ).

Not globally threatened. Extensive range, within which species is fairly common to common in parts, e.g. locally in Colombia; local in much of Central America; rare in some areas, e.g. Trinidad, but equally is easily overlooked due to lack of attention paid most observers to Columbina ground-doves, witness first records of present species in Honduras (as recently as 2003) (12 Fagan, J.F. and Jenner, T. (2004). First documented record of Plain-breasted Ground-dove Columbina minuta in Honduras. Cotinga. 22: 99-100. Close ) and well-watched Mexican state of Yucatán (in 2000) (10 Chablé-Santos, J., Sélem-Salas, C. and Hernández-Betancourt, S. (2011). Nuevos registros de Columbina minuta, Pionus senilis y Basileuterus culicivorus en el estado de Yucatán, México. Cotinga. 33: 120–121. Close ). Appears to be locally in recession, since C. passerina may be replacing it in some areas where the two are sympatric, but given spread of urbanization and agriculturalization the species is overall likely to be increasing (2 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ); it has, for example, recently (1987), appeared in Manaus (Amazonas, Brazil) (5 Omena Junior, R. and Cohn-Haft, M. (2008). Primeiro registro da rolinhade-asa-canela Columbina minuta para Manaus, estado do Amazonas, Brasil. Cotinga. 29: 180-181. Close ).