West Peruvian Dove Zenaida meloda Scientific name definitions

The West Peruvian Dove, sometimes known as the “Pacific” Dove is a close relative of the North American White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica), in fact the two have been considered conspecific until relatively recently. In terms of plumage the two species are quite similar, although the West Peruvian is more vinaceous on the underparts and has a darker, deeper blue orbital ring. But these two species differ markedly in their territorial song, a vocalization which is not learned in pigeons. The West Peruvian Dove is a species of arid areas, but it adapts well to agricultural sites, urbanization, and its population and range are increasing quite dramatically. In Chile, this dove was restricted to the very far north up until recently. Beginning about a decade ago stray individuals have been found farther and farther south and these have begun to breed. Currently the species is regular south to the Atacama region in Chile, and now pioneering individuals have reached the latitude of Santiago. This is a substantial range increase! The ability to colonize new places is clear, particularly now that a few have even been found in Northwest Argentina, so the species has successfully crossed the Andes. Eventually this dove may spread throughout arid zones in the southern cone of South America.

c. 25–33 cm; c. 216 g. Paler and greyer than Z. asiatica; lacks pink tinge on crown, and nape , and this is replaced by grey; buff face and neck replaced by grey; grey tips to tail feathers; bill stouter than in Z. asiatica; iris greyish brown, rather than red; orbital skin bright blue ; song similar to that of Patagioenas cayennensis. Sexes similar.

Previously considered conspecific with Z. asiatica, and these two were thought perhaps to be more closely related to Columba than to most other members of Zenaida; genetic data confirm monophyly of genus, and also suggest that present species and Z. asiatica are each other’s closest relatives but separate species, thus backing up the differences noted between them in vocalizations and morphology (1 Johnson, K.P. and Clayton, D.H. (2000). A molecular phylogeny of the dove genus Zenaida: mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences. Condor. 102(4): 864–870. Close ). Monotypic.

Pacific coast of South America from SW Ecuador to N Chile (Arica S to Coquimbo).

Coastal valleys and plains, and arid open savanna; frequents city parks in Arica , N Chile. Occasionally found up to 2000 m in Peru.

No information.

No precise information available, but probably similar in habits to Z. asiatica.

Song is a low-pitched rhythmic monotonous cooing "Who..huLOO..hu..huLOO..hu..huLOO" or similar, repeated at intervals. Phrase length is about 5-6 seconds. Sometimes phrase is shorter, e.g. a simpler "Who...huLOO".

In SW Ecuador, breeds as scattered pairs, never in colonies. Lays 2 eggs, white rather than buffish as in Z. asiatica. Also in SW Ecuador, season Feb–Mar; nests, shallow platforms of sticks from Cordia lutea and other species, in trees at 1·2–5·8 m above the ground; incubation period, 13–15 days, nestling period, 11–15 days (2 Knowlton, J. l. (2010). Breeding records from the Tumbesian region of Ecuador. Ornitología Neotropical 21(1):109–129. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). No population or census data available from Ecuador or Peru, but in Chile species is rapidly expanding its range S, and has recently been found to breed near Coquimbo. A small population, of unknown origin, has been detected east of the Andes in La Rioja province, Argentina (3 Bodrati, A. and Cockle, K. (2008). La Torcaza Alas Blancas (Zenaida meloda): una nueva especie para la avifauna argentina El Hornero. 23(1): 35–36. Close ).