Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti), Rotary Park, Lake Havasu City, Mohave County

This Ruddy Ground-Dove was discovered by Lauren Harter and photographed by David Vander Pluym on 20 October 2011.

These doves are rare and local visitors, with most records in fall and winter. However a few are now resident and breeding very locally in southern Arizona. There are only a couple records for Mohave Co. and northern LCRV compared to the southern section

Gray bill, black marks on tertials and scapulars, pale tips to the greater coverts, long tail and lack of scaly pattern on breast and head distinguish this from Common Ground-Dove.

20 October 2011, photo by David Vander Pluym

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