Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Turtur chalcospilos
A small, dainty, pinkish-fawn, ground-dwelling dove with an all-dark bill and two rows of iridescent green spots on the wing. In flight it reveals bright rufous wings and three gray bands: two across the back and one across the tail. A common but inconspicuous resident of drier savanna and thickets. Melancholic song is similar to that of other wood-doves. The similar Blue-spotted Wood-Dove differs by having a reddish bill with yellow tip, by having iridescent blue spots on the wing, and by preferring moister wooded habitats.
Identification
The emerald-spotted wood dove is a small plump pigeon, typically 20 cm in length. Its back, hindneck, wings, and tail are pale grey-brown, and the folded wings have green metallic patches. There are blackish bands on the lower back and tail. The forehead, crown, and nape are bluish-grey, fading to pinkish-grey on the throat. The underparts are mauve-pink, becoming whiter on the belly.<p>The bill of this dove is blackish with a red base. The sexes are similar, but the female may be slightly duller than the male. The immature has duller green spots and buff fringes to the feathers. When flying, the black-billed wood dove is told from this species by its bright chestnut underwings.<p>The call is in three parts: two soft long coos, followed by a series of slow descending coos lasting 10 seconds, and concluding with 4 seconds of rapid coos, which decrease in volume.<p>This species shows some geographical variation in plumage, but differences are clinal, and emerald-spotted wood dove is now considered to be monotypic.
Taxonomy
Genus: Turtur; Family: Columbidae; Order: Columbiformes.
- Scientific name
- Turtur chalcospilos
- Authority
- (Wagler, 1827)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Turtur
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Unicolored Jay
Aphelocoma unicolor
Well-named, this uniformly deep-blue jay occurs locally in highland evergreen and pine-evergreen forest. Like most jays, usually found in groups, often in association with mixed-species feeding flocks that include orioles, woodcreepers, and other jay species. Most likely confused with southern forms of Steller’s Jay, which occur in the same areas. Steller’s has bold white face spots, darker plumage with barring on wings, and short crest (which can be held flat). Also note rather different voices.
Yellow-bellied Tit
Periparus venustulus
A tiny luminous ball of feathers. Adult males have a glossy black head with white cheek and nape, gray wings, and a bright yellow belly; females have a gray cap, a white throat, and a duller yellow belly. Typically hops around in trees but often ventures onto the ground and into low bushes to forage. An irruptive species in its eastern winter range; can be abundant one year and absent the next.
Blue Mountain Vireo
Vireo osburni
A stout, plain vireo of woodlands with dense foliage, preferring higher elevation and wetter forests. This species lacks facial markings or wingbars of other Caribbean vireos. Its thick dark bill separates it from all warblers. This is a secretive species, typically first detected by vocalizations. The song is loud somewhat musical trill with a modest crescendo-decrescendo pattern. The call is a loud brrrrr, dropping in pitch towards the end.
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