Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina)

Common Ground Dove Common Ground-Dove image © Greg Lavaty

Family: (Columbidae) Pigeons and Doves

Preferred Habitat: Brush and woodland edges.

Seasonal Occurrence: Uncommon in winter; rare breeder in our area.

Notes: Common Ground-Doves are our smallest dove. They look somewhat similar to Inca Doves, but their tails are shorter and have white only at the corners, unlike the white edges of the Inca Dove. Note, also, the pink base to the Common-Ground Dove bill. Look for Common Ground-Doves in our rural areas. They are rare within the city limits. The Houston Bird Survey on this site has more information and a distribution map.
- Susan Billetdeaux