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Key West quail-dove
In Cuba
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Genus:	Geotrygon
Species:	G. chrysia
Binomial name
Geotrygon chrysia Bonaparte, 1855

The Key West quail-dove (Geotrygon chrysia) is a species of bird from the doves and pigeon family Columbidae. It is probably most closely related to the bridled quail-dove.

Distribution and habitat

The Key West quail-dove breeds in the Bahamas and, except for Jamaica, throughout the Greater Antilles. Despite its name, it does not currently breed in the Florida Keys and southern mainland Florida.

This bird is found in tropical and subtropical dry forests, shrublands, and lowland moist forests.

Diet

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.

Breeding

Although no longer breeding in Florida, it occasionally is still recorded in the Keys and southern 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.

Description

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 that of the white-tipped dove.

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Geotrygon chrysia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22690954A93296142. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22690954A93296142.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
2. ^ Baptista, L.F., Trail, P.W., Horblit, H.M., Kirwan, G.M. & Boesman, P. (2017). Key West Quail-dove (Geotrygon chrysia). 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. Accessed: 23 July 2017).

• Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. 2002. ISBN 978-0-7922-6877-2.
• Baptista, Luis; Trail, Pepper W. & Horblit, Helen M. "Family Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)". In del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew & Sargatal, Jordi (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-87334-22-1.

• IUCN Red List least concern species
• Columbidae
• Endemic birds of the Caribbean
• Birds of the Dominican Republic
• Birds of Puerto Rico
• Birds of the Greater Antilles
• Birds described in 1855
• Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte