Violaceous Quail-Dove

Overview

The violaceous quail-dove (Geotrygon violacea) is a species of pigeon and dove classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is a small to medium-sized bird found across various regions of Central and South America.

Identification

• Males possess an iridescent purple to amethyst hindneck and shoulders, with brown upperparts carrying a purple wash, while females exhibit duller plumage with purple gloss confined to the hindneck and shoulders.
• Adults range from 20 to 24.5 cm in length and weigh between 93 and 150 g.
• The nominate subspecies features a grayish mauve crown and a grayish white face, whereas G. v. albiventer is bluer on the head, breast, and shoulders.
• The vocalisation consists of a repeated, single, rather high-pitched cooing note.

Habitat

This species inhabits the undergrowth and understory of tropical evergreen forests, both primary and secondary, as well as cacao plantations. Its range covers parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, reaching elevations up to 1,650 m.

Diet

The violaceous quail-dove forages on the ground, feeding on seeds and fallen fruits, and probably consumes small invertebrates as well.

Did you know?

Despite appearing rare to uncommon in much of its range, the species maintains a large overall population. Its breeding season is notably long, potentially spanning from March to November.