Caribbean Dove - BirdForum Opus

Leptotila jamaicensis

Photo by Stanley Jones
Location: Rockland's Bird Sanctuary, Jamaica, November 2010

Identification

30-33 cm

• Olive-brown upperparts
• White face and throat
• Grey hind crown
• Iridescent purple nape patch
• Iridescent green or purple hind neck
• Pink cream breast
• White undertail coverts and belly
• Silver or yellow iris
• Red legs and feet
  

Juvenile: duller

Distribution

Central America and the Caribbean
Central America: eastern Mexico (mainly Yucatan), northern Belize, islands off Honduras
Caribbean: Jamaica, Cayman Islands, San Andres (politically a part of Colombia), and naturalized on New Providence (Bahamas)

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are 4 subspecies^[1]:

• L. j. gaumeri:

• Northern Yucatán, Mujeres, Holbox, Cozumel and islands off Honduras

• L. j. collaris:

• Cayman Islands

• L. j. jamaicensis:

• Jamaica

• L. j. neoxena:

• Isla San Andrés (Caribbean Sea off Nicaragua)

Habitat

from semi-arid areas with some trees and shrubs to dense secondary forests.

Behaviour

Diet

Usually feeds on seeds found while walking under bushes and other cover.

Breeding

The clutch consists of 2 white eggs which are incubated for 14-15 days; the young fledge 10-14 days later.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
2. Avibase
3. International Dove Society
4. Wikipedia

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Caribbean Dove. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Caribbean_Dove

External Links

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