Columbina squammata
The Scaled Dove (*Columbina squammata*) is a small, slender ground-dove, typically measuring 18-22 cm in length and weighing around 35-40 grams. Its most striking feature, and the source of its name, is the intricate scaled pattern of dark feathers edged with paler buff on its head, neck, and breast, which transitions to a plainer reddish-brown on the belly. The back and wing-coverts also exhibit scaling and are dotted with scattered dark spots, while the primary flight feathers are a distinc...
Inhabits open woodlands, scrubland, savannas, clearings, parks, gardens, and agricultural areas, generally at low to mid-elevations up to 2000 meters.
Primarily consists of small seeds gleaned from the ground, supplemented with fallen berries and occasionally small invertebrates.
Highly diurnal, the Scaled Dove spends the majority of its active hours foraging on the ground, meticulously picking up small seeds and fallen fruits. At dusk, it retreats to communal or individual roosts within dense trees and shrubs. Males establish and defend territories with characteristic bo...
The Scaled Dove boasts a wide and robust distribution across much of South America and parts of Central America. Its breeding range extends from eastern Panama, northern Colombia, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago, south through the Amazon basin of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argenti...
Least Concern
- The Scaled Dove is one of the smallest dove species found in its extensive South American range. - Its distinctive scaled plumage provides excellent camouflage against the dappled light of the forest floor. - Despite its small size, its flight is characterized by rapid wingbeats, often producin...