The Mexican Ground Dove 



The nesting of the White-winged Dove is rudely, but not exclusively, 

 colonistic. A bit of mesquite or a stretch of willow may yield a dozen 

 nests, while another half mile stretch, fully as inviting, is tenantless. 

 The slovenly architect is not more careful than other dove-breeds, and so 

 we have all varieties of nests, from mere horizontal branches and crossed 

 sticks to elaborate platforms of grasses or weed-stalks. The eggs, two 

 in number, are never "white" but always pale pinkish buff, or, more 

 exactly, "pale cartridge buff" in tint. Only one brood, apparently, is 

 raised in a season, at least in the North. From the number of idlers, whole 

 flocks of them, seen at nesting time, one suspects that an earlier brood may 

 have been reared somewhere in Sonora. At any rate, immature birds, 

 birds of the year, as we suppose, mingle with their elders in the northern 

 flight. 



No. 228 



Mexican Ground Dove 



A. O. U. No. 320a. Chaemepelia passerina pallescens Baird. 



Description. — Adult male: Prevailing color brownish vinaceous, changing to 

 olive-brown on upperparts, centrally (back, scapulars, inner tertials, rump, and upper 

 tail-coverts), lightening on sides of head and forehead, whitening on throat, lower 

 belly, and crissum; crown and neck bluish gray; feathers of breast with dusky centers; 

 wing-coverts heavily but sparingly spotted with purplish black or blackish violet; 

 alula, primary coverts, and quills blackish on exposed portions; the axillars, lining of 

 wings, and concealed webs of quills, rich orange-brown (exactly auburn) ; tail slightly 

 rounded, bluish dusky basally, blackening terminally, the outermost pair of feathers 

 tipped with white. Bill yellow with darker tip; feet yellow. Adult female: Some- 

 what similar to male, but much paler and duller, scarcely vinaceous, olive-gray or pale 

 brownish instead; no blue-gray anywhere; the spotting of wings bright rusty or barely 

 glossed with purplish. Length 158. 75-177. 8 (6.25-7.00); av. of 7 adults: wing 84.2 

 (3.315); tail 56 (2.20); bill 11. 1 (.44); tarsus 12.4 (.49). 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size; vinaceous coloring of males; terrestrial 

 habits; the only tiny dove within our limits. 



Nesting. — Nest: A shallow platform of twigs and grasses; placed at moderate 

 height in bush or tree. Eggs: 2; elliptical oval, white. Av. size 21.5 x 16.5 (.847 

 x .65); index 76.7. Season: March-July; also throughout the year in the Imperial 

 Valley (Fortiner). 



Range of Chamepelia passerina. — Southern United States and south through 

 the West Indies and Mexico to Brazil and Peru. 



Range of C. p. pallescens. — Lower Sonoran and Tropical zones, from southeastern 

 California and Lower California east to south-central Texas and south to Costa Rica. 



Occurrence in California. — Of common but irregular occurrence in the valley 

 of the Colorado; probably breeds. Casual elsewhere at widely separated stations, 



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