Cinnamon Ground Dove Gallicolumba rufigula Scientific name definitions

22–24 cm; 121–137 g. Forehead rufous buff; face pale pinkish buff with band of bluish grey above and behind eye ; rest of upperparts and sides of breast vinaceous grey-brown to reddish brown; grey edges to wing-coverts forming series of bars on closed wing; centre of throat, breast and underparts white with central breast golden yellow; underwing-coverts banded blackish and white; central tail feathers purplish chestnut, outer ones grey with broad chestnut and black central bands; iris purplish; bill dark purplish; legs and feet purplish red. Sexes similar, but female slightly paler on breast and forehead. Juvenile has centre of breast reddish brown and pale rufous edging to wing-coverts. Race alaris has head markings pinkish brown rather than grey; helviventris similar but darker on head, and has grey wing bars suffused purplish and thus less conspicuous; other races show only minor differences in plumages.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Primary rain forest and monsoon forest, from sea-level up to 1000 m, occasionally to 1700 m.

Little known, but species may be partially nomadic, based on population fluctuations in response to bamboo seed-set. Almost entirely terrestrial, except when nesting and roosting in low vegetation; typically seen walking quickly over forest floor, head bobbing rapidly; if flushed, quickly alights and continues to flee on foot.

Diet consists of seeds, fallen fruits and insects. Considered to be more insectivorous than Chalcophaps indica and C. stephani, with one or other of which is often sympatric. In some areas, numbers may increase dramatically in response to seed-set by wild bamboo. Forages on the ground ; usually solitary.

Advertising call a faint, upward-inflected, froglike trill (1 Pratt, T. K., and B. M. Beehler (2015) Birds of New Guinea. Second edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ).

Season apparently prolonged, from latter part of dry season through rainy season; nesting records from N New Guinea in Aug, Trans-Fly region in Sept–Oct and Port Moresby area in Feb–Mar. Nest typically consists of a few twigs and leaves arranged on a firm foundation, e.g. palm frond or birds-nest fern; recorded 0·9–2·7 m above ground. Lays 1 egg, white tinged pale cream; nestling covered with distinctive pale cinammon down; at 1 nest, nestling fully feathered and probably capable of flight by c. 9 days, but still in nest at c. 16 days; adult is very shy near nest, and 1 brooding parent performed a fluttering distraction display when flushed.

Not globally threatened. Precise data not available, but species appears to be uncommon to fairly common, though often overlooked because of retiring behaviour, e.g. only recently recorded in Yominbip area, despite considerable previous work in this region. Held in several zoos and collections.