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RUDDY QUAIL-DOVE  Geotrygon montana 23–25cm. Humid forest, shady

plantations. See quail-dove intro (p. 168). Sometimes seen in flight, low and

fast along a quiet road or across clearings, when bright ruddy male is readily

identified. Female/juv. slightly smaller, stockier, and shorter-tailed than

Leptotila doves, with no white on tail corners; also note striped face, vertical

pale bar at breast sides, red bill. SOUNDS: Song a low, mournful, slightly moan­

ing whoooo, fading away slightly, every 2–5 secs. Cf. Chiriqui Quail-Dove,

Gray-chested Dove. STATUS: Fairly common on Pacific slope, locally to 1200m;

less numerous on Caribbean slope, especially in foothills, to 1000m. (Mexico to

S America.)

OLIVE-BACKED QUAIL-DOVE  Leptotrygon veraguensis 21–24cm. Rather

small dark quail-dove of humid lowland forest, adjacent taller second growth,

usually with dense understory. See quail-dove intro (p. 168). Distinctive in

range, with bold white cheek stripe in all plumages; female darker overall than

male, with buffy vs. white forehead; juv. browner overall with cinnamon wing

bands. SOUNDS: Low, slightly downslurred, and twangy gulping owhh, every

1–3 secs; could easily be passed off as a frog. STATUS: Fairly common on Carib-

bean slope, locally to 1500m. (Nicaragua to nw. Ecuador.)

PURPLISH-BACKED QUAIL-DOVE  Zentrygon lawrencei 25–27cm. Hand­

some, medium-size quail-dove of humid foothill forest with dense understory.

See quail-dove intro (p. 168). Note boldly striped face with whitish forehead,

grayish head and breast; purple gloss to mantle apparent with good view. Cf.

Buff-fronted Quail-Dove, which may overlap locally. Sexes similar. Juv. duller

overall, upperparts edged pale cinnamon, breast barred buff. SOUNDS: Song a

3-syllable, slightly twangy cooing huh-w’hohw, every 2–3 secs; 1st part under­

slurred, last note loudest, slightly downslurred. At a distance, only last hohw

audible, cf. shorter, higher, and faster-paced song of Buff-fronted Quail-Dove.

STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common but local on Caribbean slope, 400–

1000m. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

BUFF-FRONTED QUAIL-DOVE  Zentrygon costaricensis 25–28cm. Hand­

some, medium-size quail-dove of humid foothill and highland forest. See quail-

dove intro (p. 168). Note boldly striped face, bright ruddy upperparts; also buff

forehead contrasting with blue-gray crown, glossy green hindneck. Cf. Pur-

plish-backed Quail-Dove, which may overlap locally. Juv. duller overall, with

whitish forehead, diffusely barred above and below. SOUNDS: Relatively high,

slightly overslurred wowh, every 1–1.5 secs, often repeated steadily; could be

passed off as a frog; higher and more nasal, not gulping like Olive-backed

Quail-Dove. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on both slopes, 1000–

3000m; mainly 2000–2500m on Pacific slope, mainly 1500–2000m on Carib-

bean slope. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

CHIRIQUI QUAIL-DOVE  Zentrygon chiriquensis 28–31cm. Large, heavily

built quail-dove of humid highland and foothill forest. See quail-dove intro

(p. 168). Distinctive, with overall pinkish-ruddy plumage, contrasting blue-gray

head, faint dark face stripes. Juv. lacks blue-gray cap, duller and browner overall

with variable dark scalloping. SOUNDS: Low mournful whooOOoo, about 1 sec,

every 3–5 secs; at a distance, only the loudest middle section audible. Suggests

Ruddy Quail-Dove but slightly longer and deeper, intensifies slightly, and ends

more abruptly. STATUS: Uncommon on both slopes, mainly 1000–2500m on

Pacific slope, 600–2000m on Caribbean slope. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)