Grey-chested Dove

The grey-chested dove, known scientifically as Leptotila cassinii, is a modestly adorned bird with a length ranging from 22.5 to 28 cm and a weight between 132 to 179 grams. Exhibiting a pinkish-gray forehead and face, it boasts a dark brown crown and nape, with an iridescent grayish-purple sheen adorning the hindneck. The upperparts are cloaked in olive-brown, complemented by an iridescent green or purple mantle, while the tail is a shade darker with white-tipped outer feathers. A white throat transitions to a reddish-gray breast and a reddish belly, with the eye encircled by bare gray skin tinged with red at the front and back. The legs and feet are a striking red. Males and females are similar in appearance, though females tend to be darker.

Identification Tips

To identify the grey-chested dove, look for its distinctive pinkish-gray face, dark brown crown, and the iridescent sheen on the hindneck. The white throat and reddish underparts are also key features, along with the white tips on the outer tail feathers. The yellow eye surrounded by bare gray skin is another characteristic to note.

Habitat

This species thrives in secondary forests, from sea level up to elevations of 1,400 meters, though in the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, it is typically found no higher than 750 meters.

Distribution

The grey-chested dove graces a range that includes Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Its distribution is divided among three subspecies: the nominate L. c. cassinii in Panama's Canal Zone and northern Colombia, L. c. cerviniventris from Chiapas, Mexico, through parts of Central America to western Panama, and L. c. rufinucha in southwestern Costa Rica and northwestern Panama.

Behaviour

A solitary or sometimes paired forager, the grey-chested dove does not form flocks. It is known to feed on the ground, consuming seeds and small insects.

Song & calls

The dove's call is a single, mournful, monotonous note 'woOOOooo' that fades in and out slowly, evoking a sense of the serene environments it inhabits.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary by location, with Costa Rica experiencing two seasons from February to May and July to September, Panama from February to September, and Colombia likely from January to April. The dove constructs a shallow platform nest of twigs and straw, placed 1 to 5 meters above the ground, and typically lays a clutch of two eggs.

Similar Species

The grey-chested dove is closely related to the Tolima dove and ochre-bellied dove, with which it may form a superspecies. It can be distinguished by its unique coloration and vocalizations.

Diet and Feeding

While the specifics of its diet are not well-documented, the grey-chested dove is known to consume seeds and small insects found on the forest floor.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the grey-chested dove as Least Concern. Despite gaps in knowledge regarding its biology and ecology, it is considered fairly common throughout most of its range.