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Key West Quail-Dove
Geotrygon chrysia
At a Glance
Although it was named for Key West, Florida, where it probably nested in the 1800s, today this bird is only a rare visitor to Florida from islands in the Caribbean. A chunky, rotund bird, it walks quietly on the ground under very dense cover, and is often difficult to find even where it is common.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Pigeon-like Birds
Conservation
Low Concern
Habitat
Forests and Woodlands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets
Behavior
Direct Flight
Range & Identification
Description
11-12" (27-31 cm). A heavy-bodied tropical dove that walks on the ground. Rich brown on back, with strong purple and green iridescence, and dull whitish below. Strong face pattern with dark crown, wide white stripe under eye.
Size
About the size of a Robin
Wing Shape
Broad, Pointed
Tail Shape
Rounded, Short, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
Deep, hollow cooing, ooo-wooooo.
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