Eared Dove

The Eared Dove is a medium‑sized dove, about 24–26 cm long, with a slim, tapered body and a long, wedge‑shaped tail. Its plumage is mostly pale grayish‑brown, with a bluish‑gray crown, a purplish iridescent patch on the neck, and distinctive black spots on the wings and behind the ear coverts, which give the species its name. The underparts are vinaceous, fading to pale buff on the belly, and the tail is broadly tipped with pale or cinnamon tones. The bill is black, and the legs are reddish. Females are slightly duller, and juveniles show more brownish tones with faint barring.

• Species eBird Ecuador Link: Eared Dove

In Ecuador, the Eared Dove is widespread and common, especially in semi‑open habitats, agricultural areas, towns, and cities, including the Andean highlands up to around 3,200 meters. It is particularly abundant in settled regions, where it perches on wires, rooftops, and fences, and forages on the ground in parks, fields, and gardens. Although most numerous in the highlands and drier western lowlands, it can occur from near sea level to high elevations, reflecting its adaptability to human‑altered landscapes.

The Eared Dove is closely related to the North American Mourning Dove and forms part of a superspecies complex with it and several island doves, including the Socorro and Galápagos Doves. It is highly gregarious, forming large flocks at feeding sites and communal roosts, especially in agricultural landscapes. In some areas, such as Argentina, populations have reached extraordinary densities, leading to year‑round breeding and massive flocks that can number in the thousands. Its soft, subdued “oo‑ah‑oo” call is less conspicuous than that of many other doves, making it more often detected by sight than sound.