Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti) on nest, Red Rock, Pima County

Ruddy Gound-Dove is very rare in the southwestern US.  The first breeding record in the US was of a fledgling observed in Wickenburg in 1993 and the second was of fledglings observed in Calipatra, California in 2001.  Pierre Deviche discovered this Ruddy Ground-Dove nest on 1 July 2006 along the Santa Cruz River near Red Rock.  This is therefore the first nest of this species discovered in the US and only the third confirmed breeding record for the country.  It is suspected that Ruddy Ground-Doves are rare breeders in Arizona but confirmation has been difficult to obtain.  For more information, see the discussion in the Arizona Breeding Bird Atlas. 

Although the nest is carefully hidden you can still see the necessary field marks:  black streaks on scapulars, unmarked breast and nape; pale tips on greater coverts, that separate Ruddy from Common Ground-Dove.  In the second photo, the head of a young bird is visible if you look carefully just below the adult's head.  The nest itself was about 2 meters off the ground in a Palo Verde that was part of the dense vegetation that runs along the river. 

1 and 2 July 2006 Photos by Pierre Deviche