Eared Dove ( Zenaida auriculata )

25 cm. The body is brownish grey, with the upper parts darker . The tip of the tail is white. There are two horizontal black bands in the sides of the head and on the wings. The male is bluish on the top of the head.
Distribution:
South America.
Habitat:
Open fields, cerrado, caatinga, crops, parks, lawns, urban areas. It is benefitted by deforestation
Diet:
Mainly grains, but also small fruits. When breeding also consumes snails and millipedes.
Reproduction:
During courtship the male produces a low sound different from its usual one. The male exhibits its strength to the female and the couple caresses each other in the head. The nest is a platform made of sparse sticks built on the ground or on small trees. The eggs (usually 2) are incubated by the couple and the hatchlings fed on pigeon’s milk.
Natural history:
Often gathers in huge flocks. May travel more than 40km in search of water. In northeastern Brazil each two or three years it forms huge migrating flocks that are intensively hunted by the local people. In this region the overhunting has caused declines to the population, while in other regions it is so abundant that is a nuisance. It has effectively conquered the urban landscapes and in some cities has become the most common dove.