Black-winged Ground Dove

Metriopelia melanoptera (Molina, 1782)

Black-winged Ground Dove, Metriopelia melanoptera, is a pigeon in the family Columbidae that breeds in South America from Colombia to southern Chile. It is a bird of high Andean country, living in páramo and puna, usually in grassy places close to treeline. It also uses Polylepis woodland and Puya stands for roosting. Across much of its range it is found between 2,000 and 4,400 m, while in Chile it ranges from 900 to 4,900 m. In winter it shifts to lower ground. Two subspecies are recognised, with the southern form darker and greyer above and less pink below.

Order

Columbiformes

Family

Columbidae — Pigeons, Doves

Breeding range

South America: Colombia to s Chile