Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Eared Dove
Zenaida auriculata
Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) — Pigeons & Doves of South America.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) is a member of the Columbidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 110 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 Zenaida
- Species auriculata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 110 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Eared Dove is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Eared Dove is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) belongs to the Columbidae family of the order Columbiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 110 g, with a wing length of about 13.6 cm and a tail of around 9.3 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 11.5 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Eared Dove?
The Eared Dove is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 110 g.
Where does the Eared Dove live?
The Eared Dove is found across South America with a range covering SA widespread, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Eared Dove belong to?
The Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Eared Dove eat?
The Eared Dove is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Eared Dove migrate?
The Eared Dove is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Eared 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 Eared Dove make?
1 real field recording of the Eared Dove can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Eared Dove's range?
The Eared Dove has a mapped global range of about 11.5 million 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.