The white-throated quail-dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs from Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, mainly in humid montane and cloud forests. It favors dense understory, forest edges, ravines, and bamboo thickets, usually staying close to the ground. The species is typically encountered on quiet forest trails or foraging in leaf litter. It tolerates some secondary growth but relies on continuous forest for cover and nesting. Streams and gullies within mature forest are commonly used microhabitats.
Altitude Range
800–3000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy, ground-dwelling pigeon of humid Andean forests, it is often heard before it is seen. Its soft, mournful single-note coo carries through dense understory. The bold white throat bordered by darker sides is a key field mark in the dim forest light. Although affected by habitat loss locally, it remains fairly widespread in protected montane forests.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with explosive take-offs
Social Behavior
Usually found alone or in pairs, walking quietly on the forest floor. Nests are simple platforms placed in low vegetation or shrubs within dense cover. Courtship involves soft coos and short display flights within the understory.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A low-pitched, mournful single-note coo given at intervals, often at dawn and dusk. Calls may include soft hoots and grunts when startled at close range.
Plumage
Overall rich brown to olive-brown upperparts with warmer rufous tones on the wings; underparts brownish with a vinaceous wash and a sharply contrasting white throat. The crown and nape are grayish, and the face shows darker auricular/malar areas that accentuate the white throat. Tail is dark with subtle banding and a slightly paler tip.
Diet
Feeds mainly on fallen seeds and small fruits gleaned from the forest floor. It also takes small invertebrates such as insects and snails, especially during the breeding season. Foraging is slow and deliberate, with frequent pauses to scan for danger.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense leaf litter of humid montane forest, along shaded trails, ravines, and bamboo patches. Often remains within a few meters of dense cover for quick escape.
