The white-faced cuckoo-dove, also known as the white-faced dove, is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi and the Togian Islands in Indonesia. The Sula cuckoo-dove was previously considered conspecific.
Region
Sulawesi and adjacent islands (Indonesia, Wallacea)
Typical Environment
Occurs in primary and secondary evergreen forest, forest edges, and well-wooded foothills. It uses the midstory to canopy to forage at fruiting trees and will also descend to lower levels along edges and clearings. The species tolerates some habitat disturbance and may visit gardens or agroforests near intact woodland. It is largely restricted to islands within the Sulawesi region.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A long-tailed island dove of Sulawesi and the nearby Togian Islands, its pale face contrasts strikingly with its darker brown body. It was formerly lumped with the Sula cuckoo-dove but is now treated as a separate species. Like many fruit-doves, it is an important seed disperser for native forest trees.
Temperament
solitary and wary
Flight Pattern
strong flier with rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, but may gather loosely at fruiting trees. Nests are simple twig platforms placed in dense vegetation or small trees. Both sexes likely share incubation and chick-rearing duties, as is typical for doves.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives a series of low, booming coos delivered at measured intervals. Calls carry through the forest and may be repeated in steady sequences, especially at dawn.
Plumage
Overall warm brown to rufous-brown with a long, graduated tail; face and forehead noticeably paler, giving a masked look. Slight gloss on the neck may be visible in good light, and underparts are more rufous. Wings are plain with minimal patterning.
Diet
Primarily feeds on small fruits and berries, including figs and other native drupes. It swallows fruits whole and later disperses seeds, aiding forest regeneration. Occasional ingestion of seeds or small invertebrates may occur but fruit is the staple.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the midstory and canopy of humid forest and along forest margins. Also visits secondary growth, clearings with fruiting shrubs, and agroforests near intact woodland.
