Uropelia campestris
The Long-tailed Ground Dove (Uropelia campestris) is a striking, small terrestrial dove of central South America, measuring approximately 15-17 cm in length and weighing 30-40 grams. Its most distinctive feature is its exceptionally long, graduated tail, often comprising nearly half its body length, which is unusual among ground doves. Key identification marks include a grayish head, a whitish supercilium, and contrasting pinkish-buff underparts, while its back is grayish-brown. The wings dis...
Inhabits dry grasslands, savannas (cerrado), open scrublands, and caatinga edges, often preferring sandy or gravelly soils at elevations typically below 1100 meters.
Feeds primarily on small seeds of grasses and herbaceous plants, occasionally supplementing its diet with small invertebrates.
This diurnal dove is predominantly terrestrial, spending most of its time walking slowly on the ground, foraging for seeds with characteristic head-bobbing movements. It is typically observed singly or in pairs, though small, loose flocks of up to twenty individuals may congregate at favored feed...
The Long-tailed Ground Dove is endemic to central South America, with a widespread but somewhat fragmented distribution across eastern Bolivia, a significant portion of central and eastern Brazil, northern Paraguay, and the extreme northern reaches of Argentina (primarily in the Chaco region, Sal...
Least Concern
- The genus name 'Uropelia' derives from Greek, meaning 'tail-dove,' a direct reference to its remarkably long tail. - Unlike many ground-dwelling birds, its long tail is not typically fanned during ground displays but is a prominent feature in flight. - The iridescent bronze-green or violet-blue...