Fun Blue-eyed Ground Dove Facts For Kids

Are you a bird lover and want to know more about doves? Look no further as we have fun and interesting facts about one of the rarest doves species of the world.

The blue-eyed ground dove is endemic to Brazil. There are numerous blue doves in the world, such as the blue ground dove, which is largely concentrated in the grasslands and rainforests of Brazil. This bird is absolutely majestic to look at.

The upper portion of its body, the head, neck, and wings, are light brown in color, while the underparts are lighter. There are also specks of blue on the wings, which make this bird look absolutely adorable.

In a bid to save the bird from being extinct from the world, Save Brasil and the Rainforest Trust have been set up for the protection of this rare species of bird whose only geographical range lies in the dry grasslands and the agricultural fields of the savanna.

For more relatable content, check out these fun facts on the cockatoo and blue jay.

Blue-Eyed Ground Dove Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a blue-eyed ground dove?

As the name suggests, the blue-eyed ground dove, like all other doves, is a type of bird.

What class of animal does a blue-eyed ground dove belong to?

Since all doves are birds, the blue-eyed ground dove belongs to the class Aves of the Animalia kingdom.

How many blue-eyed ground doves are there in the world?

As the blue-eyed ground dove is endemic to a specific region of Brazil, the Cerrado region, the population of this species of bird is limited.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN Red List, there are roughly around 50-249 mature individuals of this bird present on the globe. The population trend of this bird is also steadily on the decline owing to human activities like the destruction of habitat and climate change.

To save these birds from being extinct, these birds are protected by wildlife foundations like Save Brasil and the Rainforest Trust.

Where does a blue-eyed ground dove live?

The blue-eyed ground dove is an endemic animal, i.e., it is only found naturally living in a specific region on this planet. These birds prefer staying in the tropical and sub-tropical grasslands of Brazil, specific to the Cerrado region.

Few individuals have also been spotted at Minas Gerais.

Destruction of habitat for agriculture has been recorded in the Cerrado range, which has led to these birds being endangered. As a last resort to save and protect these species, the Rainforest Trust and Save Brasil are protecting these species of birds.

What is a blue-eyed ground dove's habitat?

The ideal habitat for this species of doves is the dry tropical and subtropical grasslands that can be found in Brazil. The population of this species of doves is steadily on the decline due to the destruction of their habitat by numerous human activities.

Who does blue-eyed ground dove live with?

The blue-eyed ground dove prefers to live in small flocks. Small flocks of five individuals are found in the savannas of Brazil, while on the ground cover, often pairs are seen living together.

How long does a blue-eyed ground dove live?

Owing to very limited research work and data, the lifespan of the blue-eyed ground dove is unknown, but we can make an assumption based on the lifespan of a common ground dove.

Out in the wild, the common ground dove lives up to seven years and a little more in captivity, so we can assume that the lifespan of the blue-eyed ground dove is likely to be similar.

However, since the population of these birds is now endangered, they are protected by the Rainforest trust reserve in the Cerrado region of Minas Gerais.

How do they reproduce?

Unfortunately, owing to very little information and research, not much is known about the reproduction of this dove which is now found in Minas Gerais of the Cerrado region in the dry savanna grasslands of Brazil.

What is their conservation status?

The blue-eyed ground dove has been listed as Critically Endangered by The International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN Red List. Human activities like climate change and destruction of habitat along with invasive diseases have played a vital role in the steady decline of the population of this species of doves.

Blue-Eyed Ground Dove Fun Facts

What do blue-eyed ground doves look like?

The overall look of this small bird is light brown while the underparts of the body are significantly lighter. There are numerous blue specks and spots on the wings which make the bird look absolutely majestic.

The neck, wing-coverts, and head are light brown in color, while the iris in the eye is blue, thereby giving its name. The bills or beaks of this bird are usually black in color, while the feet and the legs bear a pink hue.

How cute are they?

Blue-eyed ground doves are one of the most adorable creatures on this planet. Their magnificent looks, along with their small size, make them extremely cute birds.

How do they communicate?

The blue-eyed ground dove is a fairly social bird and is known to communicate frequently with other birds of similar species. The call of this bird is often referred to as a song and consists of evenly timed notes spoken every 1.5 seconds.

How big is a blue-eyed ground dove?

This species of bird is small in size and is known to have a length of roughly around 6.1 in (15.5 cm). In comparison to the Eurasian collared dove 12.6 in (32 cm), the former is half the size.

How fast can a blue-eyed ground dove fly?

Unfortunately, due to a scarcity of information, the speed at which the blue-eyed ground dove flies is unknown. The common ground dove is known to fly at speeds of around 50 mph (80 kph), so we assume the flying speed of the former to be similar.

How much does a blue-eyed ground dove weigh?

The exact weight of this species of bird is unknown, but we can compare it with the common ground dove that weighs 1.2 oz (35 g). In comparison to the ringneck dove which is 3.2–6.6 oz (92–188 g), the latter is almost five times heavier than the former.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Like all other birds on the planet, the male blue-eyed ground dove is known as a cock, while the female counterpart is referred to as a hen.

What would you call a baby blue-eyed ground dove?

Every baby bird is known as a chick; therefore, in the case of the blue-eyed ground dove, the baby will be known as a blue-eyed ground dove chick.

What do they eat?

Though there is very limited information, research has shown that blue-eyed ground dove species are omnivorous birds, just like the common ground dove species. These birds feed on seeds along with tiny insects which they find on the ground.

Are they dangerous?

There is no information that correlates to the fact that the blue-eyed ground dove poses any harm to humans or their surroundings.

Would they make a good pet?

Common doves are known to be great pets. However, the same cannot be said for the blue-eyed ground dove.

Since these species of birds have been listed as Critically Endangered, it is illegal to keep them as pets. Proper protection should be made for these rare birds to save them from the jaws of extinction in the wild. Till today no such cases of the bird being a pet have been recorded.

Did you know...

The bird was believed to have gone extinct since the early 1960s; however, quite recently, in 2016, a dozen blue-eyed ground doves were reportedly seen at Minas Gerais in Brazil.

What is the rarest dove?

The rarest dove in the world, with a mere population of around 150 individuals, is the Polynesian ground dove (Alopecoenas erythropterus), which has been listed as a Critically Endangered animal and could be well extinct if they are not protected in the wildlife reserve.

How many eggs do blue-eyed ground dove lay?

Unfortunately, the clutch size of the blue-eyed ground dove is currently unknown. If the species are properly protected at the Cerrado reserve, then the world would be hopeful, and we could get more information about this endangered species of bird. 

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these mealy parrot facts and Kea parrot facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Noah's dove rainbow coloring pages.