The purplish-backed quail-dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama.
Region
Central America
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid evergreen forests on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and into western Panama, favoring dense understory and ravines. It keeps to the forest floor and edges of streams where leaf litter accumulates. The species is generally scarce and patchy, with highest encounter rates inside large protected reserves. It avoids heavily degraded habitats and open areas, retreating to intact or mature secondary growth.
Altitude Range
100–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This shy forest pigeon of the understory is most often detected by its low, mournful coo rather than seen. It was formerly placed in the genus Geotrygon and is restricted to humid forests of Costa Rica and western Panama. Habitat loss and fragmentation make it locally scarce, so it persists best in large, well-protected tracts of forest.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, direct dashes through understory
Social Behavior
Typically encountered alone or in pairs, walking quietly along forest paths and streams. Nests are flimsy platforms placed low in shrubs or small trees, usually with one or two eggs. Pairs maintain small territories within dense understory.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, low-pitched, mournful coo delivered singly or in a slow series, often at dawn and dusk. Notes carry through dense forest but are easily overlooked among other dove calls.
