The Story
This Scaled Dove (Columbina squammata) was at Reserva Natural La Palmita in Trinidad, Casanare, Colombia when I photographed it. The Scaled Dove feeds on the ground, walking with its belly almost touching it. Its wings make a noise when it takes flight. It usually lays two white eggs. La Palmita’s research center has recorded 250 bird species and 39 bat species in the flooded savannas of Trinidad. La Palmita is a civil-society nature reserve in Trinidad that protects about 400 hectares of flooded savanna and 250 hectares of forest. IUCN lists the Scaled Dove as Least Concern, with a stable population.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, at 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 125. La Palmita conserves its flooded savannas through its cattle ranching and has welcomed visitors since 2013, so every stay supports sustainable tourism in the region.
©2019 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Scaled Dove (Columbina squammata) belongs to the family Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2024), with the population trend listed as stable. Source: IUCN Red List
