The Four Keys to ID
- Size & Shape
A portly dove with a small head, short, rounded tail, and short legs.
Relative Size
Larger than a Mourning Dove, smaller than a Rock Pigeon.
robin-sized
Measurements
- Both Sexes
- Length: 9.8-12.2 in (25-31 cm)
- Weight: 3.5-8.1 oz (99-230 g)
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
- Color Pattern
Adults are brown above and pale below, with a whitish chin and forehead. The tail has whitish corners, visible in flight. The eyes are pale yellow; legs and feet are reddish. In optimal light, the neck and breast show magenta and light blue-green iridescence.
© Tom Murray / Macaulay Library - Behavior
Forages mostly on the ground, walking quickly and bobbing its head. Eats seeds, berries, and insects. When alarmed, flushes upward with a loud wing noise, but usually settles not far away.
- Habitat
Nests and forages in thick brush and woodlands with abundant vines, usually near water. Sometimes uses citrus groves.
© Jack Esworthy IV / Macaulay Library
Regional Differences
Ornithologists recognize between 12 and 14 subspecies that stretch from Texas south to Uruguay, but plumage differences among them are very subtle.