Crested quail-dove

Overview

Wikipedia

The crested quail-dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to Jamaica.

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Distribution

Region

Caribbean

Typical Environment

Endemic to Jamaica, it inhabits humid evergreen and montane broadleaf forests, including limestone (karst) forests with dense understory. It favors shaded gullies, steep slopes, and forested ravines where leaf-litter accumulates. The species also uses well-wooded secondary growth and forest edges, and may occur in shaded plantations adjacent to intact forest. It is most frequently encountered at mid to higher elevations but can occur lower where suitable cover persists.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1800 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size27–31 cm

Wing Span40–45 cm

Male Weight0.19 kg

Female Weight0.17 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

This secretive ground-dwelling dove slips through dense Jamaican forest and often freezes before erupting in a loud, whirring flush when disturbed. It forages quietly on the leaf-litter for fallen seeds and fruits, occasionally taking small invertebrates. Habitat loss and introduced predators have impacted some populations, making intact broadleaf forest crucial for its survival.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and secretive

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats, low fast dashes through understory

Social Behavior

Usually solitary or in pairs, maintaining well-defined territories on the forest floor. Nests are placed low in shrubs or small trees, sometimes over ravines, and both adults share incubation and chick care. Clutch size is typically one to two eggs.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A series of deep, mournful coos delivered slowly from concealed perches, often with long pauses between notes. Calls carry through dense forest, sounding low and resonant, and may be given most at dawn and dusk.

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Identification

Leg Colorreddish-pink

Eye Colordark red-brown

Plumage

Rich rufous-chestnut upperparts with a bluish-grey head and small erectile crest; face shows a dark eye-stripe bordered by pale lines. Sides of the neck display iridescent green to purplish sheen. Underparts are grey shading to buff on the belly, with a darker tail often edged paler.

Feeding Habits

Diet

Feeds primarily on fallen seeds and small fruits picked from the leaf-litter. It also takes berries, tender plant matter, and occasionally small invertebrates such as insects and snails. Grit is ingested to aid digestion.

Preferred Environment

Forages on shaded forest floors, along quiet trails, and in gullies where leaf-litter is deep. It frequently works edges and openings within intact forest and may visit adjacent shaded plantations.

Population

Total Known Populationunknown

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