Family Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Least Concern
Grey-chested Dove (Leptotila cassinii)
Taxonomy
French: Colombe de Cassin German: Cassintaube Spanish: Paloma montaraz pechigrís
Other common names:
Grey-breasted Dove
Taxonomy:
Leptoptila [sic] cassinii
Lawrence
, 1867,Panama
.
Subspecies and Distribution
L. c. cerviniventris
P. L. Sclater & Salvin, 1868 – Caribbean lowlands from SE Mexico (Chiapas) S through Belize, Honduras and Nicaragua to NW Costa Rica and W Panama (Chiriquí Lagoon).
L. c. rufinucha
P. L. Sclater & Salvin, 1873 – SW Costa Rica and NW Panama (Chiriquí).
L. c. cassinii
Lawrence, 1867 – Canal Zone in Panama SE to lower Cauca–Magdalena region in N Colombia.
Descriptive notes
22·5–28 cm; 132–179 g. Forehead pinkish grey; crown and nape dark brown; throat white; breast vinaceous grey becoming iridescent greyish purple on hindneck... read more
Voice
Song is a single mournful monotonous note 'woOOOooo' which fades rapidly in and slowly... read more
Habitat
Prefers second-growth forests and Heliconia thickets, ranging up to 1400 m. Occurs on... read more
Food and feeding
Diet poorly known; species takes seeds and some small insects. Terrestrial in its habits; encountered singly or in pairs, never in flocks. read more
Breeding
In Costa Rica, season Feb–May and Jul–Sept; in Panama, Feb–Sept; in Colombia, 10 birds taken in breeding condition, Jan... read more
Movements
Resident from Mexico to N Honduras, and probably elsewhere.
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Poorly known, but considered to be fairly common throughout most of its range; fairly common from Mexico to N Honduras; uncommon in Colombia.... read more
Closely related to L. conoveri and L. ochraceiventris. Form rufinucha distinctive, with cinnamon-rufous vs dull grey-brown mid-crown to nape (3) and rather paler upperparts (1), but is vocally and mensurally similar to other taxa. Three subspecies recognized.