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GENUS LEPTOTILA

(3+ species). Rather plain, fairly plump doves of forest floor; mostly detected

by voice. Typical view is a bird flushing into forest understory or flying low across a road or trail. All

species have white tail corners (‘white tips’), cf. plain, shorter tails of quail-doves. Often best seen early

and late in day on quiet roadsides and at edges. Flush with higher, more whistling wing whirr than

quail-doves; sometimes land on low branch after being flushed. Sing from ground and low perches.

*VERREAUX’S [WHITE-TIPPED] DOVE  Leptotila verreauxi 26–29cm. Wide

variety of forested and edge habitats, from dry forest to humid plantations,

second growth, gardens; in rainforest areas occurs at edges and in second

growth, not inside heavy forest. See genus intro. Note voice, overall rather plain

pinkish head and breast, bluish eyering (sky-blue on breeding adult, blue-gray

on imm.); cf. other Leptotila. Juv. duller overall, upperparts and breast with pale

edgings. SOUNDS:  Song a low, mournful, hollow 2–3-syllable cooing, ooh-

wooooo, 2nd note sometimes inflected, or ooh’h-woooo, every 3–10 secs; 1st note

often inaudible at a distance. STATUS: Common to fairly common on Pacific

slope, locally to 2500m; uncommon and local but increasing with deforestation on Caribbean slope.

(Nicaragua to S America.)

GRAY-HEADED DOVE  Leptotila plumbeiceps 25.5–27.5cm. Humid lowland

forest and edge, adjacent plantations, second growth. See genus intro. Note

voice, blue-gray crown and nape, dusky pinkish breast; white tail corners smaller

than White-tipped Dove. Gray-chested Dove darker overall with warm brown

crown and nape. Juv. duller overall, upperparts edged cinnamon, breast narrowly

scalloped buff. SOUNDS: Short, mournful, slightly overslurred cooing whooo or

huuu, about 0.5 sec duration, repeated steadily every 2–3 secs, cf. lower, more

fading away, and often longer song of Ruddy Quail-Dove. STATUS: Uncommon

to locally fairly common in nw. lowlands, to 1000m. (Mexico to w. Colombia.)

GRAY-CHESTED DOVE  Leptotila cassinii 25–27cm. Humid forest and edge,

adjacent plantations, second growth, Heliconia thickets. See genus intro.

Distinctive, rather small Leptotila with warm brown crown and nape, dusky

grayish breast, small white tail corners. Occurs locally alongside White-tipped

and Gray-headed Doves. Also cf. female Ruddy Quail-Dove. Juv. duller and

darker overall with variable cinnamon feather edgings. Comprises 2 groups that

may represent species: darker Cassin’s Dove L. [c.] cassinii of Caribbean slope,

paler Rufous-naped Dove L. [c.] rufinucha of Pacific slope, with larger white

tail tips. SOUNDS: Song a low, mournful, drawn-out whoooo or whooóoo, fading

away, about 1.5 secs duration, every 4.5–6.5 secs; averages shorter, more overslurred in Rufous-naped

than Cassin’s. Cf. shorter, faster-paced song of Ruddy Quail-Dove. STATUS: Fairly common on both

slopes, locally to 1200m. (Mexico to nw. Colombia.)

QUAIL-DOVES (6 species). Rather chunky, compact, and generally elusive forest doves which, as

their name suggests, can appear intermediate between doves and quail. Mostly detected by voice. Singles

or pairs walk on forest floor, where may be located by rustling in leaf litter. Run quickly when alarmed;

also may freeze and flush explosively from close range with wing whirr, like quail. Sing from ground and

low to mid-level perches. Formerly all placed in genus Geotrygon.

VIOLACEOUS QUAIL-DOVE  Geotrygon violacea 22–24cm. Local and poorly

known dove of humid forest with shady understory. See quail-dove intro;

perhaps more arboreal than other quail-doves. Plain face and overall plumage

pattern suggest Leptotila, but note bright red bill, ruddy upperparts of male,

contrasting ruddy rump and tail of female; lacks white tail corners. Violet

mantle can be striking in good light, but often not apparent in typical field

views. Juv. has pale rusty tipping to upperparts and breast, dark bill tip.

SOUNDS: Short hollow whoóoo, 0.5 sec, every 2.5–4 secs; slightly higher, more

nasal than Ruddy Quail-Dove. STATUS: Scarce to uncommon and local on both

slopes; perhaps most frequent in Guanacaste Cordillera, mainly 500–1200m.

(Nicaragua to S America.)