White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)

Identification & Behavior: ~27.2 cm (11 in). The White-tipped Dove is mostly gray.  The iris is brown. The orbital skin can be blue (decipiens: east of the Andes) or red (decolor: west of the Andes).  The bill is black. The tail is gray with broad white tips that look like a narrow terminal band. It is similar to the Gray-fronted Dove, but, is distinguished by being grayer overall, and having the forehead with little contrast with the sides of head and cheeks.  Where these two doves overlap, White-tipped Dove has blue orbital skin versus red in Gray-fronted Dove. Also, see Pallid Dove and Ochre-bellied Dove.

Status: The White-tipped Dove is fairly common and widespread in a variety of habitats and elevations west and east of the Andes. It ranges from sea level up to 2700 m west of the Andes. On the east side of the Andes, it ranges up to 2000 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Paloma de Puntas Blancas.

Sub-species: White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi decolor), Salvin 1895. W Andes of Colombia to NW Peru (Marañón Valley and Trujillo)
(L. v. decipiens), Salvadori 1871. Lowlands of E Peru, E Bolivia and W Brazil S of the Amazon.

Meaning of Name: Leptotila: Gr. Lepto= mites slim, slender, thin, skinny and ptilon = plumage. verreauxi: honor the French naturalists and collectors Edouard Verreaux (1810-1868) and Jules Pierre Verreaux (1808-1873).

See more of the Family Columbidae