# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Common Ground Dove](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Columbina_passerina.jpg&width=800) Photo: www.naturespicsonline.com, Copyrighted free use · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Columbina_passerina.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Columbiformes - **Family:** Columbidae - **Genus:** Columbina ## 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 - **Disappearing Act:** Common Ground Dove can blend perfectly with the ground because of its mottled plumage, helping it hide from predators. - **Quick-Snack Power:** Common Ground Dove has a special crop to store seeds quickly, letting it eat fast and fly to safety from danger. - **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 - **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 - **Eaten by:** [Sharp-shinned Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sharp-shinned-hawk) (*Accipiter striatus*) — A swift hawk that preys on small birds. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Domestic cats are common predators of ground doves. - **Eats:** [Bermuda Grass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bermuda-grass) (*Cynodon dactylon*) — Ground doves readily consume the seeds of this common grass. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## 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? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/corkscrew-swamp-sanctuary) — Florida, US · Nature Reserve - [Fort De Soto Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-de-soto-park) — US · Nature Reserve - [Kingsley Plantation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kingsley-plantation) — Florida, US · Historic Site - [Matanzas State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/matanzas-state-forest) — Florida, US · Forest - [El Dorado Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-dorado-park) — Florida, US · Park - [Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bill-baggs-cape-florida-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park [View all places to see Common Ground Dove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-ground-dove) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Common Ground Dove: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-ground-dove)