A Common Ground Dove

Nestling under
the bougainvillea, keeping
close to the feeder.

~ carliewired

The smallest of the North American doves, the Common Ground Dove prefers walking over flying. I set food on the ground for them and their like-minded cousins the Mourning Doves. At first, I thought these little ones were the babies of the Mourning Doves. Wrong!

These little guys are gleaners who forage the ground in front of them for seeds, vegetation and insects. They will eat out of the feeder in the tree but seem to prefer the ground. They will eat as they walk, too, making them look a little like wind-up toys!