Quail-doves seem to be looming from the field of birding dreams. The chubby birds are not quail but you could be forgiven for thinking so. They are real doves but far from everyday, easy mourning ones.
Instead of sitting in the open or lounging in the middle of the road, quail-pigeons hide in the shadows. Quail-pigeons are shy by nature take care. I can’t blame them. I mean if I have to walk on the same forest floor as hungry Ocelots, boas, and other animals that can’t wait to devour me, I’m pretty shy too!
Most birds on the forest floor are cautious but doves take it to another level of caution. They have to because unlike fluffy wrens, antbirds, and Swainson’s Warblers, quail-doves are really fancy.
They’ve got cool little face patterns and patches of iridescence that turn them into cute little birds. Quail-doves can still get together but not if they take bold steps, and certainly not in open habitats.
All this wary behavior makes quail-pigeons somewhat more difficult to spot than other birds. You can still find them, sightings can happen (!) but only if you are lucky, or play by quail-dove rules.
Those would be:
- Walking slowly and cautiously like a quail-dove.
- Keep calm. Forget talking, it’s better not to whisper.
- Observe the forest floor in mature forests, especially under fruiting trees.
- Listen and monitor the calling of the quail-doves.
Yes, that is especially difficult in group birding situations and requires a high level of patience but what are you going to do? These are the rules of the quail-doves!
Now that you have a fair idea of how to look for quail-doves, here are some tips for spotting them in Costa Rica. The two main problematic species are the first mentioned, I will focus mostly on them.
Buff-fronted Quail-Dove vs. Purplish-backed Quail-Dove
In the past, in healthier ecological times, the ancestors of these two species took two different paths. One prefers the high road, and the other, the not so high road. After long years of separation, one became Buff-fronted and the other Purplish-backed.
Despite their names, these two species can look more similar than you think, especially when they give you typical, split-second, quail-dove views The bright and understory conditions don’t help either!
Both have similar patterns, mostly gray heads, dark backs, and gray underparts. If you know what to look for, separating the two isn’t all that difficult. The confusion comes from the color of the back, and expecting to see Buff-fronted only at high altitudes.
As for their back, the buff-fronted’s are maroon-brown, perhaps with a hint of burgundy; a color that could easily make you think it might be a shade of purple. Focus on that tint, especially if the quail-dove is in middle elevation cloud forest, and it’s easy to put in eBird as Purplish-backed.
If you see a quail-dove like this on high ground, yes, no doubt, Buff-fronted. Purplish-backed ones usually only reach about 1,200 meters or so. But what about the adventurous Purplish-backed ones who walk a little higher? What about the Buff-fronted ones that usually reach 1,200 meters or less?
Yes, they can overlap! Buff-fronted ones walk at a lower elevation than you might think. Perhaps they are limited to old secondary growth at such elevations? Maybe other odd situations like Cinchona feeders?
Whatever the case, you WILL see these two birds in the same place. That just means that in areas where foothill rainforest transitions to cloud forest, you can’t assume identity based on elevation.
Instead, if you see a quail-dove in Cinchona or another area of similar elevation, focus on these key field marks:
- See if the bird has a buff or pale gray front- Buff-fronted lives up to its name. Purplish-backed has a pale gray front.
- Look back- If the bird has a green nape, and the back and wings are both maroon-brown, it is a Buff-fronted. If the bird has a distinctive amethyst purple patch on its back that contrasts with the duller brown wings, hello Purplish-backed!
Ruddy Quail-Dove vs. Violaceous Quail-Dove vs. White-tipped Dove
In general, they are quite easy. Both Ruddy and the rare Violaceous have red beaks but Ruddy has a more brown or reddish-brown pattern on its head while Violaceous has a more uniform gray head and contrasting white underparts.
Based on its general plumage pattern, the Violaceous may remind you of a White-tipped Dove. However, if that “White-tipped” has a red beak, gray head, and rufous tail, it is a Violaceous Quail-Dove.
Chiriqui Quail-Dove
This heavy quail-dove is quite easy. No other quail-dove in Costa Rica is brown with a gray cap.
Olive-backed Quail-Dove
Another easy quail-pigeon, at least to recognize. Only these mostly have dark gray fur and white markings on the face.
Quail-doves are some of the tougher birds to be found in Costa Rica. They require a special kind of patience and can be especially tough on group birding tours. However, play by their rules and you will find them!
Maybe not the Violaceous but if you go to the right places, the other quail-doves for sure! Learn more about seeing quail-doves and other birds in Costa Rica with “How to See, Find, and Identify Birds in Costa Rica”. Use it to prepare for your Costa Rica birding trip and see hundreds of bird species. Hope to see you here!
