Black-winged Ground Dove Metriopelia melanoptera Scientific name definitions

Widespread in the southern high Andes, the Black-winged Ground Dove inhabits dry puna and scrub. They are elevational migrants in the southern portions of their range, moving from the high Andes down to the foothills during the winter months; occasionally they are even reported at sea level. They are generally solitary or in small flocks, but breed in groups in thick shrubbery along streams. They are usually seen foraging on the open ground or flushing with a loud whirring of wings. In the northern portions of their range, they are the only ground-dove occurring at such high elevations. Further south, they can be distinguished by their large size, long tail lacking white, and yellow patch beneath the eye.