Grey-fronted Dove

Overview

The grey-fronted dove (Leptotila rufaxilla) is a large New World tropical dove found on Trinidad and in every mainland South American country except Chile. Classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN, it is a resident breeder across a wide range of habitats.

Identification

• Approximately 28 cm in length, with a black bill and red legs and feet.
• Adult males of the nominate subspecies feature a grayish to bluish forehead, a bluish gray crown, and iridescent grayish purple on the nape.
• The eye is yellow or brown, surrounded by bare red skin and pinkish white feathers, while the throat is pinkish white and the face buff to pinkish buff.
• The upperparts are olive-brown, and the song is described as a single mournful monotonous note, 'wooOOOoo', which fades in and out.

Habitat

The species inhabits humid forests, generally within the interior but also at the edges and in clearings, including várzea, terra firme, and gallery forests in Colombia. Its range covers South America east of the Andes from Colombia and Venezuela through to Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina, as well as Trinidad.

Diet

Foraging on the forest floor, this dove consumes seeds, small fruits such as berries, and invertebrates including small butterflies, moths, and other insects. It has also been recorded feeding on bananas and rice at artificial feeding stations.

Did you know?

Although the population is estimated to exceed 500,000 individuals, it is believed to be decreasing. Breeding occurs almost year-round in Trinidad, contrasting with shorter seasons elsewhere in its range.