Common Ground Dove

Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina) is in the Pigeons and Doves family (Columbidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 7,545 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Common Ground Dove: observations by month (U.S.)

About Common Ground Dove

The common ground dove (Columbina passerina) is a small bird that inhabits the southern United States, parts of Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. The common ground dove is considered to be the smallest dove that inhabits the United States. As its name suggests, the bird spends the majority of its time on the ground walking but still has the ability to fly.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Common Ground Dove by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (Pigeons and Doves)

Mourning DoveZenaida macroura

White-winged DoveZenaida asiatica

Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto

Band-tailed PigeonPatagioenas fasciata

Inca DoveColumbina inca

Zebra DoveGeopelia striata

Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis

White-tipped DoveLeptotila verreauxi

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ