Common Ground Dove
ExploreBirds
Common Ground Dove
Columbina passerina
The Common Ground Dove is a small, gentle bird with soft brown feathers. They love to walk around on the ground and can often be seen in parks and gardens, looking for seeds to eat.
Habitat: Urban areas
Appearance
The Common Ground Dove is the smallest dove in North America, with a short tail and a plump, grey-brown body. It has a distinctive scaly pattern on its chest and a blue-gray crown. A flash of rufous primary feathers is visible when it takes flight.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderColumbiformesFamilyColumbidaeGenusColumbina
Category
BirdsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
4
Interesting facts
Male ground doves perform a special bobbing dance to impress females.
Their wings make a surprising whistling sound when they fly!
These tiny doves are the smallest found in North America!
They often build flimsy nests directly on the ground or in low plants.
Special abilities
Ability
Disappearing Act
Common Ground Dove can blend perfectly with the ground because of its mottled plumage, helping it hide from predators.
Ability
Quick-Snack Power
Common Ground Dove has a special crop to store seeds quickly, letting it eat fast and fly to safety from danger.
Ability
Heat Shield
Common Ground Dove can thrive in hot, dry environments because it excels at conserving water and finding cool, shady spots.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 15-18 cm
- Wingspan
- 25-30 cm
- Weight
- 0.024-0.04 kg
- Lifespan
- 1-5 years
- Top Speed
- 50 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 2
- Incubation
- 12-14 days
Diet & Feeding
These tiny doves feast on small seeds and grains, along with tiny berries found on the ground.
Primary Foods
- small seeds
- waste grain
- tiny berries
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
Traits
Feathered
Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
It's best to watch birds from a distance and not try to touch them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Common Ground Dove?
The easiest way to identify Common Ground Dove is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Common Ground Dove?
15-18 cm
What is Common Ground Dove's wingspan?
25-30 cm
How much does Common Ground Dove weigh?
0.024-0.04 kg
How long does Common Ground Dove live?
1-5 years
How fast can Common Ground Dove move?
50 km/h
What does Common Ground Dove eat?
These tiny doves feast on small seeds and grains, along with tiny berries found on the ground.
Where is Common Ground Dove usually found?
Urban areas
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
May 9, 2026
Matanzas State Foresti
Photo attribution
(c) Pam Kleinsasser, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
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