Another addition to my small (but growing!) collection of doves and pigeons ie the Columbidae family, this Eared Dove, South America’s most abundant and widespread dove.

I spotted this one in a small municipal park in Quito, where he shared a feeding ground with a Great Thrush and Red-Crested Cardinal, among others.

Updated on 15 November 2025 to add a link below to a January 2025 study published in Nature, that presented evidence that Eared Doves were part of the diet of ancient inhabitants of Quito.

Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) in brief (with an assist by WordPress AI):

• Size: Approximately 30-32 cm in length (12-13 inches)
• Diet: Seeds, grains, fruits, and occasionally small insects
• Habitat: Found in a variety of environments including urban areas, open forests, and grasslands
• Physical Description: Greyish-brown plumage with distinctive ear-like feather tufts; long, pointed tail; and a slightly rounded head
• Breeding: Typically breeds in the spring and summer; nests are made in shrubs or trees, usually containing 2 eggs
• Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations are stable
• Unique Behaviors: Known for their characteristic cooing sounds; often seen foraging in groups and performing a distinctive flight pattern
• Range and Migration: Widely distributed across South America at elevations of up to 4000m, particularly in coastal and southern regions; generally sedentary, with some local movements during seasonal changes

More:

• Eared Dove at Birds of the World
• Eared Dove at BirdLife DataZone
• Eared Dove at eBird
• Eared Dove at Avibase
• Eared Dove at Wikipedia
• Eared Dove at iNaturalist
• Eared Dove at Oiseaux.net

News, studies and videos:

• Evidence of eared doves consumption and the potential toxic exposure during the Regional Development period in Quito-Ecuador, Ordoñez-Araque, R., Mosquera, A., Román-Carrión, J.L. et al. Sci Rep 15, 554 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84388-y

Photos from 27 May 2013; post last updated on 15 November 2025 to update links and add a recent study.