Explore the Unique Long-tailed Ground Dove

The long-tailed ground dove (scientific name Uropelia campestris) is a distinctive South American bird that often goes unnoticed in open savannas and grasslands.

This small species stands out for its unusually long tail for a ground dove and for being the only member of its genus. That isolation in classification makes it especially interesting to birders and naturalists.

Found mainly in Brazil and parts of Bolivia, the long-tailed ground-dove favors open country near watercourses. Readers will learn how to identify it, where it ranges, what habitat it prefers, and why its taxonomic status has puzzled researchers.

Its conservation status is Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (v3.1), though local habitat change can affect populations. For field details and distribution notes, see the in-depth profile at long-tailed ground dove profile.

Key Takeaways

• Uropelia campestris is a unique, solitary-genus species in the dove family.
• It lives in open savannas and grasslands in Brazil and Bolivia.
• The bird’s long tail and behavior help with field identification.
• Status is Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, but habitat change matters.
• Practical info here supports travel planning and on-the-ground ID.

Long-tailed Ground Dove identification and natural history

Birdwatchers often spot this species by its long, tapered tail and pinkish wash on the breast. The scientific name is uropelia campestris, placing it in the order Columbiformes and the family Columbidae. That classification helps explain its behavior and form.

Why it is unique

Uropelia campestris is the only member of its genus. Major checklists treat it as monotypic, though one authority notes a subspecies. The species shows traits of both Columbina and Claravis but fits neatly into neither.

Field profile and key marks

Size is about 15.7–17.7 cm with a noticeably long tail. Expect a low, ground-feeding posture in open savanna and edges.

• Blue-gray crown and gray-blue eye with yellow-orange bare skin
• Brown upperparts, pinkish mauve throat and breast
• Two iridescent purple wing bands and purplish-black spots
• Tail with dark outer feathers and white tips

Males are richer in pink and purple tones; females appear paler and more olive. Juveniles are duller with chestnut and buff wing marks. The call is a repeated high-pitched, disyllabic “wha-ooop…wha-ooop.”

Foraging occurs in pairs or small groups on open ground, mainly taking seeds. Breeding timing remains unknown, so observations of nesting are valuable for science.

Range and habitat in South America

Uropelia campestris occurs in scattered pockets across central Brazil and into eastern Bolivia, with a few records near the mouth of the Amazon. Its distribution is discontinuous, so sightings are often local rather than widespread.

Where the species is found in Brazil and Bolivia

Core strongholds are the cerrado and pampas of central Brazil and adjoining areas of Bolivia. Birds also appear in northern coastal river-mouth areas as noted by regional accounts.

• Central Brazil and eastern Bolivia (patchy occurrence)
• Isolated records near the Amazon River mouth
• Best searched in population pockets and grassy clearings

Preferred habitat types

This species favors open, seasonally wet grassland and savanna mosaics such as cerrado. It uses woodland edges, scrubby parkland, and grassy margins near streams.

These mixed habitats provide seeds and cover. The pattern of greener edges near watercourses is a reliable place to search.

Elevation and viewing tips

Elevation ranges from near sea level up to about 1,100 m, overlapping most South American savanna zones. Because distribution is patchy, scan clearings, quiet tracks, and waterline edges rather than deep forest trails.

For more distribution details see the long-tailed ground dove entry.

Conservation status on the IUCN Red List

Assessments on the Red List summarize a species’ global risk of extinction. They help readers know whether a species needs immediate action or continued monitoring.

Official assessment and what it means

The species Uropelia campestris is listed as Least Concern under the IUCN Red List, version 3.1. This status means the species is not currently at high global risk.

Threats and regional nuance

Despite a favorable global rating, the long-tailed ground dove can be locally common while still facing pressure. The main risk pathway is habitat destruction and modification of open savanna and grassland mosaics near watercourses.

• Land conversion and fragmentation
• Altered fire regimes and intensive grazing
• Watercourse alteration that removes edge habitats

These changes reduce feeding areas and make occupancy patchier, even if the global category remains unchanged. Key data gaps—especially unknown breeding phenology—limit precise protection timing for campestris.

Conclusion

Uropelia campestris is a distinctive open-country bird with unusual taxonomy and clear field marks that reward careful observers.

Key ID tips: long tail, pinkish breast, purple wing bands with dark spotting, and bright eye skin make quick recognition possible. The repeated high-pitched “wha-ooop” often confirms presence when views are brief.

Range and habitat are straightforward: central Brazil and parts of Bolivia in cerrado, savanna and grassy edges near water from sea level to about 1,100 m. The species forages on seeds on the ground in pairs or small groups.

Conservation is stable—Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (v3.1 version)—but habitat change remains the main threat. Use reputable sources like Birds of the World, report sightings to structured databases, and practice habitat-respectful birding to help protect Uropelia campestris.