The ochre-bellied dove or buff-bellied dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
Region
Tumbesian region (western Ecuador and northwestern Peru)
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland to foothill forests on the Pacific slope, including tropical dry forest, semi-deciduous forest, and humid foothill forest mosaics. Prefers dense understory, forest edges, ravines, and secondary growth with leaf-littered floors. Often remains near watercourses or moist gullies within otherwise dry landscapes. Human-altered habitats with remnant thickets can also be used, though less consistently.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The ochre-bellied dove, also called the buff-bellied dove, is a ground-oriented forest pigeon of the Tumbesian region of western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. It keeps to dense understory and often goes unnoticed except for its mellow, mournful cooing. Habitat loss in dry and foothill forests is its main threat. It is typically seen alone or in pairs, quietly foraging on the forest floor.
Temperament
shy and terrestrial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, direct flights
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, keeping to shadowed understory. Nests are simple twig platforms placed low in shrubs or small trees. Typical clutch size is two eggs, with both parents sharing incubation and care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, mournful series of low coos, often given from a concealed perch. Phrases are spaced and repetitive, carrying surprisingly far in quiet forest.
Plumage
Olive-brown upperparts with a grayish head and nape, contrasting warm ochre-buff underparts from breast to belly. Whitish throat and subtle metallic sheen on the sides of the neck in good light. Underwing coverts warm-toned; tail shows darker center with paler edges when spread.
Diet
Feeds mainly on fallen seeds and small fruits collected from the forest floor. Also takes berries and drupes from low shrubs when available. Occasionally consumes small invertebrates such as insects or snails, especially during breeding when protein demands rise.
Preferred Environment
Forages in leaf litter of dense understory, along forest trails, and at the edges of thickets. Frequently uses ravines and humid gullies within dry-forest landscapes where food and cover are concentrated.
