Alternative name: Pacific Dove
- Zenaida meloda
Identification
25–33 cm (9¾-13 in)
These birds have brown-grey upperparts and grey underparts; there is a white wing patch. The adults have a bright blue eyepatch, and red legs and feet. Sexes are similar. Juveniles' colouring is lighter than adults, with no eye patch.
Similar Species
No overlap in range but White-winged Dove is similar but less vinaceous on the underparts and has a paler, lighter blue orbital ring.
Distribution
Along Pacific coast from southern Ecuador to northern Chile.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1]. West Peruvian Dove is closely related to the White-winged Dove from North and Central America, but has been split due to genetic and behavioral differences.
Habitat
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry/Tropical Moist
Behaviour
Breeding
Lays 2 white eggs in flimsy platform nest. Nests in scattered pairs, not in colonies.
Diet
Not studied but probably seeds and fruit, similar to White-winged Dove
Vocalisations
Similar to Pale-vented Pigeon. Song is a low-pitched rhythmic monotonous cooing coo-coo-LEE from which it gets its local name, "Cuculí."
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Baptista, L.F., Trail, P.W., Horblit, H.M., Boesman, P. & Garcia, E.F.J. (2019). West Peruvian Dove (Zenaida meloda). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/54211 on 27 June 2019).
- Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo), The Field Museum. Downloaded from http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 6/26/2019.
- West Peruvian Dove (Zenaida meloda), In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. retrieved from Neotropical Birds Online: https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/wepdov1
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) West Peruvian Dove. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 14 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/West_Peruvian_Dove
External Links
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