Scaled Dove
Columbina squammata
About This Species
A small, pale dove of open ground, gardens and scrubby edges across central South America, easily told by the scalloped, scaly pattern across its neck and breast. It walks and pecks steadily on bare earth, roadsides and lawns rather than perching conspicuously, often in pairs or small loose groups. Look for it at any time of year in towns and farmland clearings, especially early morning when it feeds before the heat builds.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- It tolerates people well and is a common sight around settlements, so a relaxed, unhurried approach on foot from a few metres is usually enough not to flush it.
- Avoid crowding a feeding or nesting pair and give way if it shows signs of alarm, such as bobbing or freezing.
- Local wildlife protections vary by country across its range, so check regional rules before handling or nest-searching regardless of how tame individual birds seem.
LCAvesColumbiformesColumbidae
Seasonal Activity
156,967 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
Photo
(c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christoph Moning
CC-BY-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.