The Russet-crowned quail-dove (Zentrygon goldmani), also known as Goldman's quail-dove, is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is native to the highlands of southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and northern Nicaragua.
Taxonomy and Systematics The species was historically placed in the genus Geotrygon but was moved to the genus Zentrygon based on phylogenetic evidence. It is monotypic, with no recognized subspecies. The specific epithet goldmani honors the American biologist Edward Alphonso Goldman.
Description The Russet-crowned quail-dove is a medium-sized, terrestrial dove, typically measuring 25–28 cm (9.8–11 in) in length. Key identification features include:
- Head: A distinctive russet or chestnut crown and nape, contrasting with a pale grayish-white forehead and supercilium.
- Upperparts: Olive-brown to dark brown, often with a purplish or greenish iridescence on the mantle and scapulars.
- Underparts: Pale gray on the throat and breast, fading to buff or white on the belly and undertail coverts.
- Bare Parts: The bill is black; the legs and feet are red or pinkish-red; the orbital skin is reddish.
Distribution and Habitat Its range extends along the Pacific slope and interior highlands from the Sierra Madre de Chiapas in Mexico through Central America to northwestern Nicaragua. It inhabits humid montane forests, cloud forests, and pine-oak associations, typically at elevations between 1,000 and 3,000 meters (3,300–9,800 ft). It prefers dense understory and is often found on steep slopes.
Behavior and Ecology
- Diet: Forages on the forest floor for seeds, fallen fruits, and invertebrates. It typically walks or runs rather than flies when disturbed.
- Breeding: Breeding season varies by location but generally occurs during the wet season (May–October). The nest is a flimsy platform of twigs placed in low vegetation, shrubs, or small trees, usually 1–3 meters above ground. The clutch size is typically two buff-colored eggs.
- Vocalizations: The song is a low, mournful, two-syllable "hoo-hooo" or "who-whooo," with the second note longer and lower in pitch. It calls primarily at dawn and dusk.
Conservation Status The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Russet-crowned quail-dove as a species of Least Concern. While the population trend is suspected to be decreasing due to ongoing habitat loss (deforestation for agriculture and coffee plantations), the species has a relatively large range and is not currently approaching the thresholds for a threatened category. However, it is considered uncommon to rare throughout much of its range.
