Violaceous quail-dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Violaceous quail-dove |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Geotrygon
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| Species: |
violacea
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| Synonyms | |
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Oreopelaia violacea |
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The Violaceous Quail-Dove (its scientific name is Geotrygon violacea) is a beautiful bird that belongs to the pigeon and dove family. You can find this special bird in many countries across Central and South America. These include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
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About the Violaceous Quail-Dove
Scientists often group animals to understand them better. The Violaceous Quail-Dove and many other birds like it used to be in a different group called Oreopeleia. Now, they are part of the Geotrygon group.
This bird has two main types, or subspecies. One is called G. v. violacea, and the other is G. v. albiventer.
What Does It Look Like?
Male Violaceous Quail-Doves are about 20 to 23.5 centimeters (8 to 9 inches) long. Females are a bit longer, from 21 to 24.5 centimeters (8 to 10 inches). They usually weigh between 93 and 150 grams (3 to 5 ounces).
Adult males of the main subspecies have a grayish-purple top of the head. Their face is grayish-white. Their neck and shoulders shine with purple or amethyst colors. The rest of their upper body is brown with a purple shimmer. Their throat and chest are white with a hint of purple, and their belly is white. Their eyes can be yellow-brown or orange-brown.
Female birds are not as colorful. Their purple shine is mostly on their neck and shoulders. Their face and throat are light gray. Their neck and chest are brownish with a purple tint, and their eyes are brown.
Young birds look similar to females but are darker. They do not have the shiny colors. They also have reddish or cinnamon patterns on their upper parts. The G. v. albiventer subspecies has more blue colors on its head, chest, and shoulders than the other type.
Where Does It Live?
The Violaceous Quail-Dove lives in different areas, not all connected. The main subspecies, G. v. violacea, is found in places like southeastern Colombia, Guyana, and Suriname. It also lives in parts of northeastern Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. You can also find it in southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and a small part of northeastern Argentina.
The G. v. albiventer subspecies lives in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. It also extends through northeastern Colombia to eastern Venezuela. Scientists think these birds might move around with the seasons, but they are still studying this.
These doves like to live in the lower parts of tropical evergreen forests. They can be found in both old, untouched forests and newer, regrowing ones. They also live in cacao plantations. They can live at elevations up to 1,650 meters (5,413 feet) high.
How Does It Behave?
Feeding Habits
The Violaceous Quail-Dove looks for its food on the ground. It eats seeds and fruits that have fallen from trees. It probably also eats small insects and other tiny creatures.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The breeding season for these doves seems to be from March, possibly until November. This is based on when adults are seen ready to breed, and when nests with eggs or young birds are found.
They build their nests using sticks. These nests are usually found about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 7 feet) above the ground.
What Does It Sound Like?
The call of the Violaceous Quail-Dove is a repeated, single cooing sound. It is quite high-pitched.
Is It Endangered?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the Violaceous Quail-Dove. They have decided it is a species of "Least Concern." This means that even though it might be rare in some places, its total population is still large. So, it is not currently at high risk of disappearing.
