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PALE-VENTED PIGEON  Patagioenas cayennensis 30–34cm. Lowland savanna

with wetlands and forest patches, forest edge along rivers, plantations, man­

groves. Mainly at mid–upper levels, often perched in canopy, on roadside wires.

In display flight, climbs with exaggerated slow wingbeats, glides down with

wings in V. Note blue-gray head with red eye, dark bill; white undertail coverts

contrasting with grayish tail. Cf. Red-billed and Scaled Pigeons. Juv. duller over-

all with narrow pale edgings to upperparts. SOUNDS: Song a drawn-out coo fol-

lowed by a repeated 3-syllable phrase (usually 3–4 ×): whoooo, oo-k-hoooo, oo-k-

hoooo..., cf. Red-billed Pigeon song; also a deep purring whoorr. STATUS: Fairly

common to common on both slopes, especially near coast; mainly below 600m.

(Mexico to S America.)

RED-BILLED PIGEON  Patagioenas flavirostris 31–35cm. Forest edge, plan­

tations, semi-open areas with taller trees and forest patches, wooded gardens;

often in drier areas, not typically in rainforest. Mainly at mid–upper levels,

often perched on bare snags in canopy and clearings. Commonly looks simply

dark overall; ‘red’ bill is mostly pale yellowish with small reddish area at base

often hard to see. Note pinkish head and neck, slaty blue-gray belly contrasting

with black tail. Cf. Pale-vented, Short-billed, and Scaled Pigeons. Juv. has dark

bill, rustier tone to chest and back. SOUNDS: Song a drawn-out coo followed by

a repeated 4-syllable phrase (usually 2–5 ×): whoooooo, óo k-hoo-oo, óo k-hoo-

oo..., cf. Pale-vented Pigeon song; also a single swelling whoo, often repeated several times. STATUS: Fairly

common in nw. lowlands, less numerous and more local s. on both slopes, especially foothills, locally to

2100m. (Mexico to Costa Rica.)

SHORT-BILLED PIGEON  Patagioenas nigrirostris 27–29cm. Fairly small dark

pigeon of humid lowland and foothill forest and edge, locally in tree-scattered

farmland. Often heard but infrequently seen. Mainly at mid–upper levels in

canopy; most often seen as singles or pairs in flight over canopy or across small

openings, not in flocks; sometimes found at fruiting trees or on quiet roadsides

taking grit. Dark overall and rather nondescript; note small black bill, brownish

upperparts, voice. Beware that juv. Red-billed Pigeon has dark bill. Limited

overlap in foothills with Ruddy Pigeon, best separated by voice. SOUNDS: Song

a far-carrying, relatively high 4-syllable cooing, ooh HOO-ku-koo, with slightly

jerky cadence, repeated every few secs, emphasis on 2nd syllable; lacks introductory notes of larger

pigeons; also a purring urrrrr, at times repeated steadily. STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes, locally to

1500m. (Mexico to nw. Colombia.)

RUDDY PIGEON  Patagioenas subvinacea 28–30cm. Fairly small dark pigeon

of humid highland and upper foothill forest and edge. Habits much like Short-

billed Pigeon (limited overlap in foothills), and these species often not separable

given typical field views, although Ruddy averages slightly ruddier upperparts

(especially male); safely identified by song. SOUNDS:  Song a far-carrying,

relatively high 4-syllable cooing, WOOka hoo’hoo, every few secs; emphases on

1st (and 3rd) syllables vs. 2nd (and 4th) in Short-billed Pigeon; lacks intro­

ductory notes of larger pigeons; also a purring urrrrr, at times repeated steadily.

STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on both slopes, mainly above 1500m in

Central Mts. and Talamancas, above 600m in Northern Mts., with local downslope movement in winter,

mainly on Caribbean slope. (Costa Rica to S America.)