Zentrygon chiriquensis
The Chiriqui Quail-Dove (Zentrygon chiriquensis) is a captivating, medium-sized pigeon of the Columbidae family, typically measuring 27-28 cm in length and weighing 200-280 grams. Its plumage features olive-brown upperparts, often with a subtle purplish gloss on the hindneck, contrasting with buffy to whitish underparts that can show a rufous wash on the flanks. Distinctive field marks include a rufous crown, a prominent white supercilium, and a dark stripe extending through the eye, framing ...
This species primarily inhabits humid montane forests and cloud forests, typically found at elevations between 1000 and 2500 meters, though occasionally ranging from 800m to 3000m.
Its diet primarily consists of fallen seeds, small fallen fruits, and a variety of small invertebrates, all gleaned from the forest floor leaf litter.
The Chiriqui Quail-Dove is a predominantly diurnal bird, but its activity is marked by extreme shyness and a secretive existence almost exclusively on the forest floor. It forages by walking deliberately and methodically through leaf litter, using its feet to scratch and expose hidden seeds, fall...
The Chiriqui Quail-Dove exhibits a disjunct distribution across Central and northwestern South America. Its primary breeding and resident range extends from southern Costa Rica, through the highlands of Panama, into western and central Colombia, and south to western Ecuador. Significant populatio...
Least Concern
- The specific epithet "chiriquensis" refers to Chiriqui Province in Panama, part of its natural range, where the species was first described. - Often referred to as "ghosts of the forest," these quail-doves are far more frequently heard than seen due to their exceptional camouflage and secretive...