Lined Quail-Dove Zentrygon linearis Scientific name definitions

The Lined Quail-Dove occurs in tropical and subtropical forests to at least 2500 m, and is distributed from central and eastern Colombia east across northern Venezuela, and also occurs on Trinidad and Tobago, on which islands it is virtually the sole Geotrygon, other than the very widespread Ruddy Quail-Dove (Geotrygon montana). Compared to the latter species, the Lined Quail-Dove is rather larger, darker overall, with a purplish mantle, and has a much more intricate face pattern, which closely recalls that of the even larger-bodied but wholly allopatric White-throated Quail-Dove (Geotrygon frenata). Most facets of the present species’ biology are still poorly known, with just one nest having been described, and nothing known concerning its diet other than that the species takes seeds, foraged on the ground by lone birds or pairs feeding together.

27–29 cm; 230–284 g. Forehead pinkish buff becoming purplish brown on crown; band of pale grey extends from behind eye down onto nape; face buffy white to very pale brown with a dark stripe from bill to and past eye and a second malar stripe extending beyond the ear-coverts; reddish brown above, reddish purple on mantle ; dark brown primaries, the outermost ones with buffy fringes; iridescent purple or bronze-green on hindneck; distinctive furrows on sides of neck similar to Z. albifacies; breast pale grey to brownish grey with purple sides; belly, flanks and undertail-coverts buffy fawn; iris orange, orange-red, brownish orange or yellow; eye-ring red, surrounded by blue; bill black; legs and feet red. Female similar to male but with brownish tinge on grey breast. Juvenile redder throughout, with most plumage barred brown and blackish.

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C & NE Colombia (Cauca Valley, Santa Marta, Santa Elena, C & E Andes) to W & N Venezuela (Mérida, Cerro de Ávila, Cumbre de Valencia, Paria Peninsula), and Trinidad and Tobago.

Tropical lowland and montane evergreen forests to 2500 m.

Unknown.

Feeds  on seeds. Singly or in pairs on the ground in forest.

Song is a single monotonous low-pitched note 'whoOOo', with highest amplitude in the middle. Length is about 0.7s-0.8s, frequency typically around 400-500Hz. Repeated every 3-6s. When two birds singing at same time, often at slightly different pitch.

In Colombia, 7 breeding condition birds taken in Apr–Oct; on Trinidad, nest with eggs in Feb. Nest was deep cup of small twigs lined with dead leaves 3·7 m above ground on a horizontal tree fork. Clutch 2 cream-coloured eggs.

Not globally threatened. Poorly known, but apparently remains fairly common in parts of Colombia, e.g. on N slope of the Santa Marta Mts. Threatened by deforestation in some areas. Extensive research required.