Description: Medium-sized terrestrial dove, about 23 cm in length, with a cryptic appearance. Overall grayish-brown coloration with a slight pinkish tinge. Whitish throat. White shoulders forming a thin band in flight. Wings and tail blackish, with black very conspicuous in flight contrasting with the white band. Long tail without white. Iris bluish to violet. Bill black. Legs gray. Conspicuous crescent-shaped area of bare yellowish to orange skin below the eye. Female: similar to the male, somewhat duller and with less pinkish tone on the underparts. Juvenile: more uniformly brown, with beige edges on the wing coverts; lacking bare skin below the eye and without pinkish tones. Differs from the Golden-spotted Ground Dove (Metriopelia aymara) by its larger size, longer tail without white, and yellow facial patch.

Distribution: Occurs along the Andes from southwestern Colombia and Ecuador to southern Argentina and Chile. In Argentina it inhabits mainly the Andean region from Jujuy and Salta to Chubut, though it is also recorded to a lesser extent in Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego, and very rarely in the Falkland Islands.

Habitat: Dry Puna, Andean and Patagonian steppe, ravines, rocky outcrops, and stony areas. Found on semi-arid slopes with sparse low vegetation, shrubby grasslands, edges of Polylepis woodlands, and also in settlements. Typical altitude between 2,000 and 4,400 m, although it may descend to lower elevations in the southern part of its range and move eastward to occur even at sea level.

Behavior: Usually in pairs or small groups; occasionally in large flocks. Feeds on the ground, often difficult to detect due to its cryptic coloration. Performs short, low, and very noisy flights with rapid wingbeats. Its song consists of series of sharp, resonant double notes repeated every few seconds (video). Also emits brief “piu” calls similar to those of passerines. In flight it produces an audible whistling sound with the wings.

Feeding: Feeds mainly on grass seeds, walking in open areas, sometimes in groups.

Breeding: Nest is a fragile platform of twigs, sometimes lined with grasses, placed in dense shrubs, cacti, bromeliads (Puya), or Polylepis woodlands, up to 3 m high; occasionally on the ground or in constructions. Lays 2 white eggs.

Conservation status: Species not threatened at national or international level. Fairly common and apparently little affected by moderately modified environments.


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