Ruddy Quail-Dove

The Ruddy Quail-Dove is a widespread species in the tropical Americas, with a distribution that covers much of northern South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of Mexico.  In the United States, they are only very rare vagrants, with a handful of sightings in extreme southern Texas and southern Florida.  They can be difficult birds to observe, as they prefer to forage and nest in forest undergrowth, and will typically run when disturbed rather than flush and fly into view.

Habitat: Found in the undergrowth of tropical woodlands and forests, as well as in second-growth forest.

Diet: Feeds on fruits and berries, as well as seeds, and sometimes small invertebrates.

Behavior: Most foraging is done by walking along the forest floor, in search of fallen fruit and other food items.

Nesting: The nest of a Ruddy Quail-Dove is a shallow bowl of twigs, covered in leaves.  It is placed relatively low to the ground, typically on a tree stump, a fallen tree, or a low branch. The female lays two eggs, with the male incubating the eggs by day, and the female incubating the eggs at night.  When the eggs hatch, both parents help feed and tend to the young.  The young leave the nest after about 2 weeks.

Song: The song of a Ruddy Quail-Dove is a long, moaning coo, typically descending in pitch towards the end.

Migration: Considered a permanent resident throughout its normal range.

Interactive eBird Map: Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Ruddy Quail Dove sightings

Similar Species: Key West Quail-Dove, White-tipped Dove

Conservation Status: Populations have been in decline in recent decades. However, they are still found over a wide geographic area and are common in some areas.  The IUCN lists the Ruddy Quail-Dove as a species of "Least Concern".

Further Information: 1) Cornell's Neotropical Birds - Ruddy Quail-Dove

2) Avian Web - Ruddy Quail-Dove

3) WhatBird - Ruddy Quail_Dove

Photo Information: Photo taken by Kim Hansen - Photo licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License.

 

Click below for a higher-resolution map

South Dakota Status: Non-resident in South Dakota

Additional Ruddy Quail-Dove Photos (coming soon!!)