Zentrygon albifacies
The White-faced Quail-Dove (*Zentrygon albifacies*) is a remarkably elusive and strikingly marked resident of humid montane forests in Central America and Mexico. Averaging 19-22 cm (7.5-8.7 in) in length and weighing 90-150 g (3.2-5.3 oz), this medium-sized dove is characterized by its stocky build and predominantly terrestrial habits. Its most distinctive feature is a crisp white face, accentuated by a prominent black malar stripe extending from the gape to behind the eye, contrasting sharp...
Found primarily in humid evergreen and cloud forests, ranging from mid-elevation broadleaf forests to humid pine-oak forests. Typically inhabits elevations between 600-2000 meters (2,000-6,500 feet), occasionally higher.
Primarily consumes seeds and small fallen fruits (berries) found on the forest floor, supplemented by small invertebrates such as ants and beetles. Forages by slowly walking and turning over leaf litter with its bill.
White-faced Quail-Doves are highly terrestrial and secretive birds, spending most of their time foraging on the forest floor during daylight hours. They move with a quiet, deliberate walk, often freezing or melting into the dense undergrowth when disturbed, rather than taking flight. They are typ...
The White-faced Quail-Dove is a resident species found throughout its range in southern Mexico and northern Central America. Its distribution extends from the Sierra Madre Oriental in southern Tamaulipas, San Luis PotosÃ, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Puebla, Oaxaca, and Chiapas in Mexico. From t...
Least Concern
- The White-faced Quail-Dove is one of the most famously cryptic and challenging doves to observe in its Central American range, often heard before it's seen. - Its mournful, low-pitched call can be ventriloquial, making it difficult to pinpoint the bird's exact location in the dense forest under...