Eared Dove

The Eared Dove is an extremely common and widespread dove found across nearly all of South America, from open farmland to scrubby woodland edges. Its name comes from a small, dark comma-shaped mark below and behind the eye, resembling a tiny ear, which sets it apart from similar Zenaida doves.

Body plumage is a warm pinkish-brown, with a scattering of small, solid black spots across the wing coverts. The distinctive dark auricular mark below the eye is a key identifier separate from the plumage itself. The tail is rounded rather than sharply pointed, with pale grey tips to the outer feathers visible when fanned. Compare with the Mourning Dove of North America, which has a more sharply pointed tail, and the West Peruvian Dove, which is larger and found along the Pacific coast rather than broadly across the continent.

Sexes look broadly similar, though males often show a brighter pinkish wash on the breast and a touch of iridescence on the neck sides compared to duller females. Juveniles are scalier and more buff-toned overall until their first complete molt. There is no strong seasonal plumage change, though feather wear can dull the pink breast tone between molts.

Found from Colombia and Venezuela south through virtually all of South America to Tierra del Fuego, in open woodland, farmland, savanna, and urban parks. It is partly migratory in the southern part of its range, with populations shifting seasonally in response to breeding and food availability, while remaining resident in warmer regions.

Forages on the ground for seeds, often in large flocks that can number in the hundreds where food is abundant, such as harvested grain fields. Its call is a soft, repeated cooing. Nests are simple stick platforms built in trees or shrubs, sometimes in loose colonies. It is highly adaptable and thrives in agricultural and urban landscapes throughout its range.