Columbina | |
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Ruddy ground-dove, Columbina talpacoti | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Columbiformes |
Family: | Columbidae |
Genus: |
Columbina Spix, 1825 |
Species | |
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Synonyms | |
Columbigallina |
Columbigallina
Scardafella
Columbina is a genus that contains seven species of small ground-doves that live in the New World. Species in Columbina have ranges from the southern United States through Central America and much of South America. Columbina doves are normally found in pairs or small flocks. They generally occur in open country. They have maroon irides and pinkish legs. In flight, some species show a distinctive flash of rufous in the wings, while others show black-and-white wing-patterns.
The following 2 species are usually placed here, but separated in genus Scardafella by some authors:
"Columbina" prattae from Early Miocene deposits of Florida is nowadays tentatively separated in Arenicolumba, but its distinction from Columbina/Scardafella needs to be more firmly established.