Caribbean dove  (Leptotila jamaicensis)

IUCN Red List species status – Least Concern
Loading loading

Facts – Caribbean dove

Also known as: Jamaican dove, violet dove, white-bellied dove, white-fronted dove
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderColumbiformes
FamilyColumbidae
GenusLeptotila (1)
SizeLength: 29 - 33 cm (2)
Weight117 - 190 g (2)

Status – Caribbean dove

The Caribbean dove is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1).

Description – Caribbean dove

Conspicuous iridescent purple to bronze-green feathers on the hindneck of the Caribbean dove (Leptotila jamaicensis) make it a fairly distinctive island inhabitant in the Caribbean region. The forehead, face and throat of this species are white, becoming blue-grey on the crown and back of the neck. The sides of the neck and breast are rosy pink to pinkish-white. The upperparts are typically greyish olive-brown, contrasting with white underparts and reddish-brown underwing (2) (3). There is often a bold white band on the front of the folded wing (2). The tail of the Caribbean dove has black feathers outer feathers and a white band across the bottom, which is broken in the middle by the central pair of grey-brown tail feathers. The bill is black, slightly greyer at the base, and the legs and feet are red. The Caribbean dove has dull reddish-purple skin around the eyes, and the iris is white or whitish-yellow, often with a red ring (2) (3).

The female Caribbean dove has much duller iridescence on the back of the neck compared to the male. The juvenile is also duller and lacks the iridescence. The wing-coverts and the feathers on the shoulder of the juvenile are typically edged with red, and the neck and breast have pale reddish-brown bars (2) (3).

Four subspecies of the Caribbean dove are recognised. Leptotila jamaicensis gaumeri is slightly smaller than the other subspecies and more olive-brown, with reduced iridescence on the hindneck and darker pink on the breast. Leptotila jamaicensis collaris is slightly smaller than the nominate subspecies Leptotila jamaicensis jamaicensis, but is otherwise similar in appearance, while Leptotila jamaicensis neoxena also has reduced iridescence on the neck and the underparts are more deeply washed with pink (2) (3).

Range – Caribbean dove

The Caribbean dove is common on several Caribbean islands, with different subspecies occurring mainly on different islands. Leptotila jamaicensis gaumeri is found on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and on islands around Belize. Leptotila jamaicensis collaris occurs in the Cayman Islands, while the nominate Leptotila jamaicensis jamaicensis is found on Jamaica and has been introduced to New Providence in the Bahamas. Leptotila jamaicensis neoxena inhabits areas in the western side of San Andres off the coast of Nicaragua (2) (3). The Caribbean dove may also occur in Colombia, Honduras and the Turks and Caicos Islands (1).

Habitat – Caribbean dove

Generally found in semi-arid habitat, the Caribbean dove inhabits primary and secondary forest up to elevations of 2,000 metres. It typically favours lowland areas with shrub or tree cover, such as scrub or woodland. The Caribbean dove is also found in the dry limestone forests and the montane forest of the Blue Mountains in Jamaica, and is commonly observed in gardens and orchards throughout its range (2) (3).

Biology – Caribbean dove

The Caribbean dove feeds on seeds, small fruits, insects, larvae and small snails (2) (3). Generally, the Caribbean dove is found alone or in pairs on the forest floor. It forages for prey among the leaf litter, or along the edges of woodland, and, less commonly, in more open habitats. This species shows an unusual preference for walking on the ground rather than flying, and it will typically only fly to a low perch when it is disturbed (3)

Breeding occurs from March to May when the female Caribbean dove lays a clutch of two white eggs. The nest is typically a fragile platform of twigs, which is lined with rootlets and placed in a dense low tree or shrub, usually no more than three metres above the ground (2) (3). The Caribbean dove is also known to occasionally nest on the ground (2).

Threats – Caribbean dove

There are no known significant threats to the Caribbean dove (4).

Conservation – Caribbean dove

The population of the Caribbean dove is considered to be stable. There are no known conservation measures in place for this species (4).

ARKive is supported by OTEP, a joint programme of funding from the UK FCO and DFID which provides support to address priority environmental issues in the Overseas Territories, and Defra

Find out more – Caribbean dove

Find out more about the Caribbean dove and other bird species:

Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

Glossary

  • Coverts: small feathers concealing the bases of larger flight feathers, usually on the wings or tail.
  • Larvae: stage in an animal’s lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.
  • Montane forest: forest occurring in the montane zone, a zone of cool upland slopes below the tree line dominated by large evergreen trees.
  • Nominate subspecies: the subspecies indicated by the repetition of the specific name. Thus, in this case the Cyclura nubila nubila is the nominate subspecies of the Cayman Islands ground iguana, Cyclura nubila.
  • Primary forest: forest that has remained undisturbed for a long time and has reached a mature condition.
  • Secondary forest: forest that has re-grown after a major disturbance, such as fire or timber harvest, but has not yet reached the mature state of primary forest.
  • Subspecies: a population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.

References

  1. IUCN Red List (March, 2011)
    http://www.iucnredlist.org/
  2. del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (1997) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
  3. Gibbs, D., Barnes, E. and Cox, J. (2000) Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, A & C Black Publishers Ltd, London.
  4. BirdLife International - Caribbean dove (March, 2011)
    http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=2583
More

Related species

More

Related species by status

No related species found
More

Related species by group

Loading...
More

Related species by geography

More

Related species by habitat

Caribbean dove on forest floor Caribbean dove on forest floor

 
Photos 4

What's new?

San Jose brush rabbit

New profile for the Critically Endangered San Jose brush rabbit. More

Latest from the ARKive blogsubscribe to posts

Loading...
ARKive.org is the place for films, photos and facts about endangered species. Subscribe to our blog today to keep up to date!

To see the latest posts from ARKive please visit http://blog.arkive.org or enable javascript.

Image credit

Caribbean dove on forest floor
Caribbean dove on forest floor

© Michael Gore / www.flpa-images.co.uk

FLPA - images of nature
Pages Green House
Wetheringsett
Stowmarket
Suffolk IP14 5QA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1728 861 113
Fax: +44 (0) 1728 860 222
pictures@flpa-images.co.uk
http://www.flpa-images.co.uk

Link to this photo

ARKive species - Caribbean dove (Leptotila jamaicensis) Embed this ARKive thumbnail link by copying and pasting the code below.

Terms of Use - The displayed thumbnail may be used as a link from your website to ARKive's online content for private, scientific, conservation or educational purposes only. Portlets may NOT be used within Apps.

MyARKive

MyARKive offers the scrapbook feature to signed-up members, allowing you to organize your favourite ARKive images and videos and share them with friends.