Northwest Nature Log Dove common to Mexico takes up residence near mouth of Columbia

Published 7:53 am Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The common ground dove that has been spotted locally is spending time in a very damp open field just south of Astoria. Torrential tropical rains occur in Oaxaca in the summer months, so this little bird won’t mind the rain, but the temperature may be a problem.

By SUZANNE STAPLES

This seems to be a year for uncommon birds in our area. Or, at least, more sightings of uncommon birds. We’ve had tropical kingbirds, shrikes, clay-colored sparrows, and I’m sure many more. One of the latest to hit the birding airwaves is the common ground dove.

This dainty little bird makes its home in Mexico and farther south. They’re often seen in far southern Arizona, California and in Florida. “National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America” calls them “accidental” in Washington. It’s Oregon’s fifth record and the first for Clatsop County. Of course there could have been many more ground doves here in the past, but if no one saw them, they weren’t recorded. If a tree falls in a forest….

These little birds do not migrate, but stay pretty close to their chosen homes. They prefer dry, open land and don’t mind urban areas. Small flocks, their heads dot-dot-doting along in the greenery of city parks is a common and welcome sight in Mexico.

One of the ways I like to start off every new year is to note the first bird seen on New Year’s Day morning. A few years ago in Oaxaca City, deep in southern Mexico, we found a loosely manicured jungle paradise in which to spend the holiday weeks. Airy cabanas with generous tile patios snugged into shade beneath huge rubber trees. Paths wound through banana trees, heliconias, bougainvillea of all colors, roses drooping lushly from trellises: a bird paradise. A brown thrasher, although not a very flashy bird, sang a non-stop ethereal song every morning. Lemon yellow kiskadees proclaimed their names from the tallest shrub. A family of band-backed wrens bickered quietly among themselves in the orchid tree. A birder’s paradise too.

Anyway, back to those ground doves. Because Oaxaca winters are very dry, the crispy leaves and twigs crackled and crunched under the shrubbery when birds or others were hunting there. There were actually a few spiders big enough to make that noise when they moved, so I learned to watch and wait, rather than investigate too closely. Usually it was a small flock of dainty common ground doves, picking through the duff in search of insects. They are a dusty, soft brown with dusky scaling on the head, neck and chest. Their wings sport dark violet spots, but the violet is hard to see unless they are in the sun. When they fly, their open wings show reddish brown. And they’re small; about 6 inches long including a rather long tail.

This particular New Years Day dawned clear and warm, which is the norm in Oaxaca. Coffee made, binocs in hand, we went out on the patio to see our first new year’s birds. Crackle, crackle, crunch we heard, just beside our cabana. We hoped for the dove, but there are also white-throated towhees around, a very local bird found only in and around Oaxaca. These little towhees skulk under the brush picking up seed, just like our spotted towhees do here in the northwest. They had been my new year’s bird last year.

We sat quietly, savoring strong Mexican coffee, one of us at least hoping a large light brown spider didn’t appear from under the duff. Then sure enough, one head, then another, appeared, and then there were five little doves, pecking along the ground, searching out an early breakfast. We sat quite still, and although they kept a weather eye on us, they didn’t seem to mind our quiet presence. Common ground doves. What a lovely bird to begin the year.

The common ground dove that has been spotted locally is spending time in a very damp open field just south of Astoria. Torrential tropical rains occur in Oaxaca in the summer months, so this little bird won’t mind the rain, but the temperature may be a problem. Winter in Oaxaca can see temperatures in the low 40s, but rain at that time is rare. Hopefully this little one, if he stays, will find shelter and food before he starts to find his way south to his home.

If I’m lucky, I will be able to search out this little dove on new year’s day this year. It won’t be the day’s first bird, but I can wish him a safe stay in his new winter home.