Sapphire Quail-Dove (Geotrygon saphirina)

Identification & Behavior: ~23.5 cm (9.2 in). The Sapphire Quail-Dove has rufous-brown back, bluish rump, and a short tail. The forehead, face, and throat are white with a distinctive malar streak. The nape is blue. The sides of the neck are reddish. The breast is bluish and grades to white towards the belly.  It may resemble a Ruddy Quail Dove, but is distinguished by having white underparts and colorful neck and head. It forages on the forest floor of Terra – Firme forest.

Status: The Sapphire Quail-Dove is generally rare. It appears to occur in discontinuous populations, or perhaps it is overlooked. It is known to range up to 1000 m along the foothill of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Br.

Name in Spanish: Paloma-Perdiz Zafiro.

Sub-species: Sapphire Quail-Dove (Geotrygon saphirina saphirina), Bonaparte 1855. E Ecuador S to SE Peru (Cusco) and extreme W Amazonian Brazil (Amazonas).
(G. s. rothschildi), Sztolcman 1926. Known only from Cadena in Mareapata Valley (SE Peru).

Meaning of Name: Geotrygon: Gr. Geo= ground; (referring to the habit of this bird to walk); and Treron= pigeon. saphirina: L. saphirina, sapphirinus= relating to sapphire stone, sapphire..

See more of the Family Columbidae