Scaled Dove

Columbina squammata

The Birds of the World website introduces the Scaled Dove with this descriptive information:  The Scaled Dove is a resident of arid savanna and scrub. It occurs in two disjunct populations, oen in northern South America in Venezuela and Colombia, and another that extends from northeastern Argentina north through central and eastern Brazil.  The Scaled Dove has greyish-brown upperparts, pinkish-grey face and breast, white throat, and white distal wing coverts that form a conspicuous white patch on the bird’s closed wings. The dove is gets its “scaled” appearance from the dark edges of the birds feathers. The Scaled Dove is typically found alone or in pairs foraging on the ground for seeds and invertebrates.

I met my first Scaled Dove on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.  Our Jeff Parker Tour group was staying at Southwild’s Pouso Alegre Lodge and I watched this bird during an a walk on the lodge grounds and at the main feeder area.  For details of my Brazilian trip that include the sighting of this bird, look here.  Below are a few of my photos of this quaint little Dove.