Grey-fronted dove

Last updated

Grey-fronted dove
Leptotila rufaxilla -in tree-8-4c.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Leptotila
Species:
L. rufaxilla
Binomial name
Leptotila rufaxilla
(Richard & Bernard, 1792)
Leptotila rufaxilla map.svg

The grey-fronted dove (Leptotila rufaxilla) is a large New World tropical dove. It is found on Trinidad and in every mainland South American country except Chile. [2] [3]

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

The grey-fronted dove, the grey-headed dove (Leptotila plumbeiceps) and azuero dove (L. battyi) of Central America, the pallid dove (L. pallida) of South America, and the Grenada dove (L. wellsi) of Grenada were at one time thought to be a single species. Even after these were split into individual species, some authors treated pallid dove as a subspecies of grey-fronted dove. Grey-fronted dove, grey-headed dove, and pallid dove are possibly a superspecies. [4] [5]

The grey-fronted dove has these six subspecies. The population in Suriname, here included in the nominate L. r. rufaxilla, has been proposed as a seventh subspecies, L. r. hypochroos. [2] [5]

Description

The grey-fronted dove is about 28 cm (11 in) long and weighs 115 to 183 g (4.1 to 6.5 oz). Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a grayish to bluish forehead ("front"), a bluish gray crown, and a grayish purple nape and hindneck with some iridescence. The yellow or brown eye is surrounded by bare red skin that is itself surrounded by pinkish white feathers. The throat is also pinkish white and the rest of the face buff to pinkish buff. The upperparts are olive-brown with faint bronze or purplish on the mantle. The central tail feathers are also olive-brown and the outer ones blackish with obvious white tips. The breast and sides of the neck are greyish pink shading to white on the belly. The bill is black and the legs and feet red. The adult nominate female is browner than the male, with more of an olive cast to the flanks and green-tinged upperparts. The juvenile is similar to the female but its breast has rust and drab brown bars and the upperparts' feathers show rusty edges. The other subspecies differ somewhat in size and their colors are redder, pinker, or grayer than the nominate. [5]

Distribution and habitat

The grey-fronted dove is a resident breeder in South America on Trinidad and east of the Andes from Colombia, Venezuela and the Guyanas south to Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. The subspecies are found thus: [3] [5]

The grey-fronted dove inhabits humid forest, generally in the interior but also at the edges and in clearings. In Colombia it has been recorded in várzea , terra firme , and gallery forests. In elevation it is found below 550 m (1,800 ft) in Venezuela and locally as high as 2,200 m (7,220 ft) in southeastern Brazil. [5]

Behavior

Feeding

The grey-fronted dove forages on the forest floor, eating seeds, small fruit such as berries, [6] insects such as small butterflies and moths, and other invertebrates. [6] It has also been recorded eating bananas and rice at feeding stations. [5]

Breeding

The grey-fronted dove breeds almost year round in Trinidad; elsewhere its breeding season is shorter. It builds a platform nest of twigs in a bush, tree, or palm and lays one or two white eggs. [5]

Vocalization

The grey-fronted dove's song is "a single mournful monotonous note 'wooOOOoo' which fades in and out." [5]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the grey-fronted dove as being of Least Concern. Its population is estimated to exceed 500,000 but is believed to be decreasing. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pale-breasted spinetail</span> Species of bird

The pale-breasted spinetail is a passerine bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad, and in every mainland South American country except Chile and Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-tipped dove</span> Species of bird

The white-tipped dove is a large New World tropical dove. Its scientific name commemorates the French naturalists Jules and Edouard Verreaux.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-olive woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The golden-olive woodpecker is a species of bird in the subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found from Mexico south and east through Panama, in every mainland South American country except Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and Trinidad and Tobago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut-collared swift</span> Species of bird

The chestnut-collared swift is a species of bird in subfamily Cypseloidinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found from Mexico and Trinidad south to Peru and Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-headed dove</span> Species of bird

The grey-headed dove (Leptotila plumbeiceps) is a large New World dove. It is found from eastern Mexico to Colombia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lined quail-dove</span> Species of bird

The lined quail-dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sapphire quail-dove</span> Species of bird

The sapphire quail-dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azuero dove</span> Species of bird

The Azuero dove or brown-backed dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to Panama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-chested dove</span> Species of bird

The grey-chested dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yungas dove</span> Species of bird

The Yungas dove, also known as the white-faced dove or large-tailed dove, is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pallid dove</span> Species of bird

The pallid dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plumbeous pigeon</span> Species of bird

The plumbeous pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-breasted crake</span> Species of bird

The grey-breasted crake is a species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is found in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, and every mainland South American country except Chile and Uruguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-winged antwren</span> Species of bird

The long-winged antwren is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut-winged foliage-gleaner</span> Species of bird

The chestnut-winged foliage-gleaner is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-chinned thistletail</span> Species of bird

The white-chinned thistletail, or colicardo barbiblanco in Ecuador, is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-throated leaftosser</span> Species of bird

The grey-throated leaftosser is a Near Threatened species of bird in the subfamily Sclerurinae, the leaftossers and miners, of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern slaty antshrike</span> Species of bird

The northern slaty antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-stained woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The red-stained woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dusky leaftosser</span> Species of bird

The dusky leaftosser or South American leaftosser is a bird in subfamily Sclerurinae, the leaftossers and miners, of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Giana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International. (2018). "Leptotila rufaxilla". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T22690877A130173662. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22690877A130173662.en . Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (July 2021). "IOC World Bird List (v 11.2)" . Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 24 August 2021. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved August 24, 2021
  4. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 24 August 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved August 24, 2021
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Baptista, L. F., P. W. Trail, H. M. Horblit, A. Bonan, and P. F. D. Boesman (2020). Gray-fronted Dove (Leptotila rufaxilla), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.grfdov1.01 retrieved September 21, 2021
  6. 1 2 "Leptotila rufaxilla (Grey-fronted Dove)" (PDF). The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago. UWI.

Further reading