Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Golden-spotted Ground Dove
Metriopelia aymara
Golden-spotted Ground Dove (Metriopelia aymara) — Pigeons & Doves of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Golden-spotted Ground Dove (Metriopelia aymara) is a member of the Columbidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 61.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Columbiformes
- Family Columbidae Pigeons, Doves
- Genus Metriopelia
- Species aymara
Quick facts
- Weight
- 61.8 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Golden-spotted Ground Dove is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Golden-spotted Ground Dove is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Golden-spotted Ground Dove (Metriopelia aymara) is a member of the Columbidae family, within the order Columbiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA sc Peru to n Chile.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 61.8 g, with a wing length of about 11.6 cm and a tail of around 6.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 832,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Golden-spotted Ground Dove?
The Golden-spotted Ground Dove is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 61.8 g.
Where does the Golden-spotted Ground Dove live?
The Golden-spotted Ground Dove is found across South America with a range covering SA sc Peru to n Chile, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Golden-spotted Ground Dove belong to?
The Golden-spotted Ground Dove (Metriopelia aymara) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Golden-spotted Ground Dove eat?
The Golden-spotted Ground Dove is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Golden-spotted Ground Dove migrate?
The Golden-spotted Ground Dove is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Golden-spotted Ground Dove endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Golden-spotted Ground Dove make?
1 real field recording of the Golden-spotted Ground Dove — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Golden-spotted Ground Dove's range?
The Golden-spotted Ground Dove has a mapped global range of about 832,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Columbidae
A field guide to the Columbidae family — 352 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.