White-throated Quail-Dove Zentrygon frenata Scientific name definitions

The White-throated Quail-Dove is usually considered to be most closely related to the entirely allopatrically distributed Lined Quail-Dove (Geotrygon linearis), and is traditionally subdivided into as many as four different subspecies, although some recent authors have suggested that recognition of any of these is unwarranted. The White-throated Quail-Dove is chiefly characterized by the pale buff forehead and supra-loral region, although the species should be easily identified anyway, it being the only quail-dove over most of its altitudinal range. This is a large, generally rather dark-plumaged, and bulky quail-dove of montane forests to at least 3000 m, where it feeds on the ground, sometimes in pairs or groups of three. It occurs over western Colombia and western Ecuador, but is more widely distributed over the east Andean slope, from eastern Ecuador south to northwest Argentina.

30–34 cm; 311 g. Very similar in appearance to Z. linearis but with forehead and area under eye buff, crown blue grey; slightly darker than Z. linearis throughout, notably on mantle , which is deep purple. Female less grey than male. Juvenile coarsely barred tawny and fuscous on upperparts and underparts. Races differ mainly in coloration of head .

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

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.

Montane evergreen forest at 900–3000 m, occasionally down to 700 m. Found in humid forest with undergrowth, as well as tall second growth on steep slopes in Andean valleys.

Presumed to be resident, but no precise information. Readily flushes to low branches.

No specific information on diet. Feeds on the ground , usually alone but occasionally 2–3 birds together.

Song is a single monotonous low-pitched note 'whoOOo', with highest amplitude in the middle. Length is about 0.6s-0.7s, frequency typically around 400Hz. Repeated every 3-6s.

Little information. Apparently nests Jan–Jul in W Andes of Colombia; late Sept in Urubamba Valley, Peru. One nest was flat platform, 2 m up in a thick tangle; contained 1 pale buff egg.

Not globally threatened. Very little known, but species reported to be uncommon in Colombia; regularly seen but not common at Calilegua National Park (NW Argentina). Appears to be rather patchily distributed. Extensive research required in order to establish basic details of biology and ecology, as well as surveys to define limits of range and population size and trends; internal taxonomy also needs clarification.