The white-fronted quail-dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola; it is possibly extirpated from Haiti.
Region
Hispaniola, Greater Antilles
Typical Environment
Primarily inhabits humid evergreen and montane broadleaf forests with dense understory and leaf-littered floors. It also uses mixed pine-broadleaf mosaics, forested ravines, and karstic limestone woodlands where cover is thick. Birds keep close to the ground, favoring shaded, minimally disturbed tracts. Historical records exist from Haiti, but it may now persist mainly in protected or remote Dominican localities.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy, ground-dwelling dove of dense forests, the white-fronted quail-dove is recognized by its crisp white forehead patch. It is endemic to Hispaniola and is possibly extirpated from Haiti, surviving mainly in the Dominican Republic. Habitat loss and hunting have pressured its small, localized populations.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low explosive flush from the forest floor
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, keeping to dense cover and moving quietly along the forest floor. Nests are simple platforms placed low in vegetation or occasionally on the ground. Clutches are small (typically 1–2 eggs), and adults are highly cryptic near the nest.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Low, mournful coos delivered from concealed perches, often at dawn. Notes are spaced and resonant, carrying softly through dense forest. Alarm calls are sharper and given when flushed at close range.
Plumage
Rich brown to rufous-brown upperparts with a soft gray wash on the head and nape, and subtle iridescence on the neck-sides. Underparts are grayish with warmer tones on the breast and flanks. Forehead shows a distinct white patch contrasting with a dusky eye-line.
Diet
Forages for fallen fruits and berries, supplemented by seeds and small invertebrates such as insects and snails. It probes leaf litter and picks items from the ground, occasionally gleaning low shrubs. Diet varies with seasonal fruiting, relying heavily on native forest trees.
Preferred Environment
Feeds on shaded forest floors, along trails, and in ravines where leaf litter accumulates. Prefers areas with dense understory for cover, venturing briefly into small clearings or edges close to cover.
