Golden-spotted Ground Dove

Small and compact dove, 17–19 cm in length. Overall uniform sandy-brown coloration, slightly paler on the underparts, with a lighter throat. As a diagnostic feature, it shows a row of small iridescent bronze-golden spots on the lesser wing coverts (shoulders), mainly visible in good light (pers. obs.). It may show one or two blackish spots on the inner tertials. In flight, a chestnut patch is visible at the base of the primaries (seen from below). Tail short and somewhat square, dark, almost covered by the long brown upper tail coverts. Bill black; iris dark; legs pink. Sexes similar. Juveniles paler and lacking evident golden spots. Unlike other species in the genus, it lacks bare skin around the eye, which is fully feathered. It may be confused with the Black-winged Ground Dove (Metriopelia melanoptera), but that species shows orange bare facial skin and lacks golden spots on the wings.

Geographic distribution: Andean species distributed from south-central Peru south through Bolivia and northern Chile to northwestern Argentina. In Argentina it occurs in the northwest and Cuyo region, reaching south to the Andes of Mendoza. In Tucumán it is present in the Cumbres Calchaquíes above 4,300 m a.s.l., associated with wet meadows and bofedales (personal obs.).

Habitat: Inhabits the Puna and high-Andean shrub steppes. Frequent in rocky outcrops, stony areas, ravines, open plains, and edges of high-Andean lagoons. May approach settlements and rural constructions. In Argentina it is mainly recorded between 2,000 and 4,500 m a.s.l. It likely performs seasonal altitudinal movements, although poorly documented.

Behavior: Terrestrial, shy, and highly cryptic. Often carries its tail slightly lowered while walking. Seen in pairs or small groups, though it may form large flocks outside the breeding season. Flight low and fast, with noisy wingbeats. Often emits an audible whistle during sustained or display flights.

Feeding: Granivorous. Feeds on seeds collected from the ground, usually in groups moving slowly (personal obs.).

Breeding: Places the nest on the ground among grasses or among rocks; may also use stone walls or human constructions. Lays two white eggs.

Conservation status: Species not threatened at national or global level. Locally it may be fairly common, although its abundance varies by region and season, and it often inhabits remote high-elevation areas.


Author of this compilation: Diego Carus and María Belén Dri – 03/04/2026