The grey-headed dove (Leptotila plumbeiceps) is a large New World dove. It is found from eastern Mexico to Colombia.
Region
Central America and northern Colombia
Typical Environment
Occurs from eastern Mexico south through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama into northwestern Colombia. It occupies humid lowland and foothill forests, especially mature evergreen forest with dense understory. The species also uses secondary growth, forest edges, and shaded thickets near streams. It keeps close to cover and spends much time walking on leaf litter. It avoids open country and heavily degraded habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
A shy ground-dwelling dove of humid forests, it is more often heard than seen, giving deep, mournful coos from dense understory. When flushed, it bursts into swift flight with loud wing claps, showing white corners in the tail. It typically forages alone or in pairs on the forest floor, where its earthy tones provide excellent camouflage.
Chan Chich Lodge area - Belize
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with explosive flush
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, keeping to dense understory and forest floor. Builds a flimsy platform nest of twigs placed low in shrubs or small trees. Pairs are monogamous, and both sexes share incubation and chick rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A deep, resonant series of spaced coos, often delivered from a concealed perch in the understory. Calls carry well in humid forest and can be the easiest way to detect the species.
Plumage
Soft gray head and nape, pinkish-buff breast blending to whitish throat, with warm brown to olive-brown back and wings that show rufous tones. Underparts fade to whitish belly; tail is dark with contrasting white corners. Feathers are smooth and unpatterned, giving a clean, matte look overall.
Diet
Primarily consumes fallen seeds and small fruits picked from the forest floor. Also takes berries and drupes from low vegetation and occasionally ingests small invertebrates or snails. Grit is swallowed to aid grinding tough seeds.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in shaded leaf litter of mature forest, along quiet trails, and at forest edges with dense cover. Often forages near fruiting trees where fallen fruits accumulate.
