Columbina (genus)

Columbina
Ruddy ground-dove, Columbina talpacoti
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Subfamily:	Columbinae
Genus:	Columbina Spix, 1825
Species
Inca dove Columbina inca Scaled dove Columbina squammata Common ground dove Columbina passerina Plain-breasted ground dove Columbina minuta Ecuadorian ground dove Columbina buckleyi Ruddy ground dove Columbina talpacoti Picui ground dove Columbina picui Croaking ground dove Columbina cruziana Blue-eyed ground dove Columbina cyanopis
Synonyms
Columbigallina Scardafella

Columbina is a genus that contains seven species of small ground-doves that live in the New World. Species in Columbina have ranges from the southern United States through Central America and much of South America. Columbina doves are normally found in pairs or small flocks. They generally occur in open country. They have maroon irides and pinkish legs. In flight, some species show a distinctive flash of rufous in the wings, while others show black-and-white wing-patterns.

Blue-eyed ground-dove (above), and Ecuadorian ground dove (below); illustration by Keulemans, 1893

Species

• Blue-eyed ground dove, Columbina cyanopis
• Common ground dove, Columbina passerina
• Croaking ground dove, Columbina cruziana
• Ecuadorian ground dove, Columbina buckleyi
• Picui ground dove, Columbina picui
• Plain-breasted ground dove, Columbina minuta
• Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti

The following 2 species are usually placed here, but separated in genus Scardafella by some authors:

• Inca dove, Columbina inca
• Scaled dove, Columbina squammata

"Columbina" prattae from Early Miocene deposits of Florida is nowadays tentatively separated in Arenicolumba, but its distinction from Columbina/Scardafella needs to be more firmly established.

References

• BirdLife International www.birdlife.org
• Howell, Steven N. G. & Webb, Sophie (1995): A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York. ISBN 0-19-854012-4
• Gibbs, David; Barnes, Eustace; Cox, John (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Yale University Press. pp. 335–344. ISBN 0-300-07886-2.