Golden-spotted Ground Dove Metriopelia aymara Scientific name definitions

The Golden-spotted Ground-Dove is a member of the high Andean genus Metriopelia. It occurs from south-central Peru to northwest Argentina and is seldom found lower than 2500 m. This ground-dove can be found in a diversity of habitats such as wide lake shores, plains, semi-desert scrub, tussocks or cushion plants. During the breeding season, it may congregate in sizable groups in Polylepis woodland, often at very high elevations. The Golden-spotted Ground-Dove is the only species of Metropelia that lacks bare facial skin, but from a distance must be distinguished with care from its congeners.

17–19 cm. Pale fawn brown above with vinous pink tinge; vinous pink below becoming white on throat and buff on belly ; central tail feathers greyish brown with black tips, outer tail feathers purplish black; fawn uppertail-coverts long, extending almost to end of closed tail; undertail-coverts and primaries black, latter with chestnut bases; row of iridescent golden bronze spots on lesser coverts; two purplish black patches on scapulars and innermost secondaries; iris brown; bill black; legs and feet pink. Sexes alike. Juvenile paler than adult with pale fringes on wing-coverts and little or no pink tinge; lacks bronze wing spots.

Inhabits puna zone of Andes; on plains, wide lake shores, and dried-up clay-pans in semi-desert with scattered Lepidophyllum bushes, grass tussocks, cushion plants or low annuals. During nesting season, congregates in Polylepis woodland or rocky terrain , at times at very high elevations. Sometimes seen near villages. Usually at 2800–5000 m but in S part of range may be found as low as 300 m; in Andes of Tucumán typically over 4500 m.

Seasonal movements poorly understood and warrant further study.

No information available on diet. Feeds on the ground , usually in small groups but sometimes in large flocks.

Known to call but no details of vocalisations are available (1 Areta, J.I. and Monteleone, D. (2011). The voices of the high-Andean Metropelia ground-doves. Ornitología Neotropical. 22(2): 219-227. Close ). Like other congeners produces a ringing rattling of the wings when birds are taking off. However, this is also audible as a whistling sound during sustained flight, particularly during display flights, which involve a wide circle followed by a long dive (2 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close ).

Eggs have been found Apr–Aug in Bolivia and N Chile, and May–Jun in C Peru; juveniles recorded in Bolivia Jul–Sept and Dec. Nest placed in grass and possibly sometimes in trees or among rocks. Lays 2 white eggs.

Not globally threatened. Little precise information available, but species appears to be locally common in some areas e.g. in parts of Argentina; abundance seems to vary seasonally at least in parts of range. Research required in order to establish basic details of biology and ecology.