Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti), Whitewater Draw, Near the Owl Roost, Cochise County

This Ruddy Ground-Dove was discovered and photographed by Robert Payne on 07 December 2008 at Whitewater Draw near the owl roost.  The bird was sitting mid way up a tree near the Whitewater Draw owl roost area. It stayed in the same tree for about five minutes before taking off to the grasses east of the roost. The bird was very wary.

A few years ago Ruddy Ground-Doves appeared on the way to becoming established in Arizona and there were even a couple of breeding records.  However, in the last couple of years reports have dwindled.  This fall has seen a resurgence of reports. 

This bird's short tail identifies it as a ground-dove.  The plumage is worn and a little scruffy. It's kind of hard to tell in the photos if the chest is scaled or just ruffled but the head and nape would usually be more scaled on a Common Ground-Dove.  The gray bill is probably the best mark that this is a Ruddy Gound-Dove but the black spots on the scapulars and coverts can also be just made out. 

07 December 2008, photo by Robert Payne