ID Keys: Dark ruddy-brown back and wings, light-gray underparts,
brownish head with white mustache and chin, iridescence on many
upper feathers
The
Key West Quail-Dove is a medium sized dove of the Caribbean. They once
nested on Key West (the location where they were first identified and named)
and other locations in southern Florida, but are now primarily found on
islands of the Caribbean including Cuba and Puerto Rico. In Florida,
they are now only rare visitors. In their core range in the Caribbean
they are often relatively common, but given their shy nature and tendency to
stay in dense vegetation, they are often difficult to observe.
Habitat
The Key West Quail-Dove inhabits dense tropical and subtropical forests, woodland, and scrub, particularly areas with a thick understory and abundant leaf litter. It is primarily a ground-dwelling bird, favoring shaded forest floors where it can forage beneath trees and shrubs.
Diet
The Key West Quail-Dove feeds primarily on seeds, fruits, berries, and other plant material, supplemented by insects, snails, and other small invertebrates. It usually forages on the ground, walking quietly through leaf litter and picking up fallen fruits and seeds or scratching among debris for food.
Behavior
Forages by walking on the ground,
typically in and around areas of vegetation. Items are gathered by
plucking them off of the surface of the ground. When disturbed, they
typically will run away on the ground, or make very short flights.
Nesting
The nest of Key West Quail-Dove is a
simple platform of sticks and leaves, constructed on the ground or in a low
shrub. The female lays one to three eggs, and both the male and female
help to incubate them. The eggs hatch after about 12 days.
Song
The Key West Quail-Dove has a distinctive low, resonant, mournful coo, typically consisting of a single deep whooo note repeated at regular intervals. Its song is often heard from within dense forest and can carry surprisingly far despite the bird's secretive nature. It may also give softer coos or subdued calls during interactions with a mate.
Migration
The Key West Quail-Dove is primarily non-migratory, with resident populations remaining year-round on Caribbean islands within their normal range. Individuals may make short local or inter-island movements, and occasional birds wander north to southern Florida and the Florida Keys, especially after storms or other weather events. These appearances in the United States are considered dispersal or vagrancy rather than regular seasonal migration.
Distinctive if seen well, although body shape suggests other pigeon and dove
species.
Conservation Status
The Key West Quail-Dove is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. It has a relatively broad Caribbean distribution and remains fairly common in portions of its range, although local populations can be affected by forest loss, habitat degradation, and introduced predators. It is now only a rare visitor to Florida, where it apparently bred historically.
