Maroon-chested Ground Dove

The Maroon-chested Ground Dove, Paraclaravis mondetoura, presents a striking figure in its montane forest home. Males, measuring 18 to 24 cm in length, boast a grayish-white forehead, face, and chin, with a dark purple breast that fades to gray on the belly and vent. Their upperparts and wings are a blue-gray, accented by two broad dark bars when the wings are folded. The central tail feathers are gray, bordered by white on the outermost feathers and grayish white in between. A distinctive orange eye is set within a patch of bare yellow skin. Females are generally brown with a cinnamon face and less pronounced wing bars, while juveniles resemble females but with a redder hue.

Identification Tips

To identify this species, look for the male's dark purple breast and the two broad dark bars on the folded wing. The female's overall brown coloration and cinnamon face are key features, as well as the juvenile's redder tint compared to the adult female.

Habitat

The Maroon-chested Ground Dove is found in the dense undergrowth of wet montane forests, forest edges, and secondary forest thickets, often in areas abundant with bamboo.

Distribution

This species has a discontinuous range from southeastern Mexico through Central America to Peru and Bolivia. It is found at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 meters, depending on the region.

Behaviour

Typically solitary or in pairs, the Maroon-chested Ground Dove forages on the ground for seeds and fallen fruit. It may occasionally form flocks of up to 15 individuals, especially when bamboo seeds, a major component of its diet, are abundant.

Song & calls

The song of the Maroon-chested Ground Dove is a series of low-pitched, slightly rising bisyllable coos, reminiscent of a soft 'cuWOOP…..cuWOOP…..cuWOOP…'.

Breeding

Breeding behavior is not well-documented, but it is suspected that this dove may nest in loose colonies. The nest is a simple platform, and in one recorded instance, contained two eggs within a stand of Chusquea bamboo.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists primarily of seeds and fallen fruit, with a particular preference for bamboo seeds. The dove remains in an area as long as there is a supply of seeding bamboo.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Maroon-chested Ground Dove as Least Concern, though it is considered uncommon to rare and potentially at risk if deforestation continues unabated throughout its range.