Zentrygon carrikeri
Zentrygon carrikeri, the Tuxtla Quail-Dove, is a profoundly secretive and visually striking ground-dwelling pigeon, measuring 18-22 cm in length and weighing around 155-160 grams. Its plumage is characterized by a dark chestnut body, contrasting with a pale grayish-white forehead and crown that fades to gray on the nape. Distinctive field marks include dark rufous-chestnut lores, malar regions, and throat, further accentuating its cryptic appearance within its dense forest habitat. Taxonomica...
Montane evergreen and cloud forests, favoring dense understory and steep slopes, typically found between 350-1300 meters elevation.
Mainly seeds and fallen fruits gathered from the forest floor, supplemented by small invertebrates.
This quail-dove is highly cryptic and diurnal, spending the vast majority of its time foraging silently on the dimly lit forest floor. It employs a deliberate, slow-walking strategy, meticulously probing and turning over leaf litter with its bill to uncover food items. Exhibiting a solitary or pa...
The Tuxtla Quail-Dove is strictly resident, confined to a minuscule and severely fragmented area within the Sierra de los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico. Its entire known distribution is endemic to this isolated volcanic mountain range, comprising only a few remaining patches of suitable forest habita...
Critically Endangered
- The Tuxtla Quail-Dove is classified as Critically Endangered, making it one of the rarest and most threatened birds on Earth. - It is endemic to a single, small volcanic mountain range, the Sierra de los Tuxtlas in Veracruz, Mexico. - This species was discovered relatively recently in 1942 by M...