Bridled Quail-Dove

IDENTIFICATION: Similar to the Key West Quail-Dove but somewhat smaller, with duller upperparts, and a darker, buffy color below. The iridescence on its neck and upper back is a faint, purple color. Length: 24-30 cm.; weight: 230 g. Females are slightly smaller than males.

VOICE: A low-pitched, "coo-oo", fading toward the end. It usually sings from a perch, but sometimes from the ground. Audio (G. Lasley).

HABITAT: Dense native forests, with a well-developed shrub layer.

HABITS: Forages on the forest floor for fallen berries, seeds, and occasionally snails. It uses its bill to probe the leaf litter. When disturbed, it prefers to run. If it does take flight, it will fly low through the forest for only a short distance. At night, it roosts close to a tree trunk. Like the Ruddy Quail-Dove, the courtship display involves bobbing the head and mutual preening. Both sexes build the nest: a flimsy platform of twigs and leaves. The female lays 1-2 buff-colored eggs. Both sexes incubate the eggs, and when switching incubation duties, the incoming bird often brings an additional twig to add to the nest. The home range in one study was about four hectares.

STATUS AND CONSERVATION: A rare and local permanent resident of Puerto Rico and Vieques that may have colonized the islands only recently. The recovery of native forest in the 20^th Century has probably helped this species. However, it has probably suffered from predation by the introduced mongoose.

RANGE: Breeds on Puerto Rico and on some, but not all the islands of the eastern Caribbean, south to St. Lucia. Regular locations to find this species include Vieques, and in Guajataca State Forest.

TAXONOMY: COLUMBIFORMES; COLUMBIDAE

Photo: A. Sßnchez Mu±oz

References

Chipley, R. M. 1991. Notes on the biology of the Bridled Quail-Dove (Geotrygon mystacea). Carib. J. Sci. 27:180-184.

del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, eds. 1998. Handbook of Birds of the World, Vol. 4. Sandgrouse to cuckoos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox. 2001. Pigeons and doves: A guide to the pigeons and doves of the world. Yale University Press.

Ortiz Rosas, P. 1981. Guía del cazador: aves de caza y especies protegidas. Depto. de Recursos Naturales, San Juan, PR.

Raffaele, H.A. 1989. A guide to the birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Princeton.

Raffaele, H.A. 1989. Una guía a las aves de Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes. Publishing Resources, Inc., Santurce, PR.

Raffaele, H.A., J.W. Wiley, O.H. Garrido, A.R. Keith, and J.I. Raffaele. 1998. Guide to the birds of the West Indies. Princeton.

Rivera-Milán, F.F. 1992. Distribution and abundance patterns of columbids in Puerto Rico. Condor 94:224-238.

Sorrie, B.A. 1975. Observations on the birds of Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. Carib. J. Sci. 15:89-103.

Bridled Quail-Dove, Spanish text

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