- Geotrygon chrysia
Identification
Photographed along Snake Bight Trail, Everglades NP, Florida, USA, on April 29, 1979. My wife and I just happened to be visiting the Everglades when we heard that this vagrant was being seen along Snake Bight Trail, which must be the most mosquito-infested location in the lower 48 states!
The Key West Quail-Dove (Geotrygon chrysia) is a member of the bird family Columbidae, which includes doves and pigeons.
The Key West Quail-Dove breeds in the Bahama Islands, and throughout most of the Greater Antilles(except Jamaica). It formerly bred in the Florida Keys and southernmost mainland Florida. In fact, it was first discovered in Key West, Florida and is how the bird received its name. Although no longer breeding in Florida, it occasionally is still recorded on the Keys and southernmost mainland Florida as a vagrant. It lays two buff colored eggs on a flimsy platform built on a shrub. Some nests are built on the ground.
The Key West Quail-Dove is approximately 27-31 cm in length. The bird is distinguished by having a dark rust colored back and similarly colored wings. It has some amethyst or bronze green iridescence on its crown, nape and in the back of its neck. The mantle, back, rump and inner wing coverts show some purplish red iridescence. It also has a bold white facial stripe. Its call is similar to the call of a White-tipped Dove.
This bird is found in semi-arid woodland and scrub forest. It also prefers wet lowland montaine forest. These birds forage on the ground, mainly eating seeds, berries and fallen fruit. It is fond of poisonwood fruit. It will also take snails in its diet. Key West Quail-doves feed primarily on the ground.
