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. Chsemepelia 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 Chcemepelia passerina. —Southern LInited 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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