Caribbean dove

In the 18th century, the Caribbean dove was described under the name "white-bellied dove" by several naturalists including John Ray in 1713,{{ cite book | last=Ray | first=John | author-link=John Ray | year=1713 | title=Synopsis methodica avium & piscium | volume=Avium | language=Latin | place=London | publisher=William Innys | pages=183–184 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6355449 }} Hans Sloane in 1725{{ cite book | last=Sloane | first=Hans | author-link=Hans Sloane | year=1725 | title=A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica : with the natural history of the herbs and trees, four-footed beasts, fishes, birds, insects, reptiles, &c. of the last of those islands | volume=2 | location=London | publisher=Printed for the author | pages=303–304, [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/188773 Plate 262 fig 1] | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/188474 }} and Patrick Browne in 1756.{{ cite book | last=Browne | first=Patrick | author-link=Patrick Browne (physician) | year=1756 | title=The Civil and Natural History of Jamaica | place=London | publisher=Printed for the author, and sold by T. Osborne and J. Shipton | page=469 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11267990 }} In 1760, the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson included a description of the Caribbean dove in his six volume Ornithologie. He used the French name Le pigeon de la Jamaïque and the Latin Columba jamaicensis.{{ cite book | last=Brisson | first=Mathurin Jacques | author-link=Mathurin Jacques Brisson | year=1760 | title=Ornithologie, ou, Méthode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, especes & leurs variétés | volume=1 | language=French, Latin | place=Paris | publisher=Jean-Baptiste Bauche | pages=134–135 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36010562 }} Although Brisson coined Latin names for species, these do not conform to the binomial system and are not recognised by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.{{cite journal |last=Allen | first=J.A. | author-link=Joel Asaph Allen | year=1910 | title=Collation of Brisson's genera of birds with those of Linnaeus |journal=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History |volume=28 | pages=317–335 | hdl=2246/678 }} When in 1766 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his Systema Naturae for the twelfth edition, he included the Caribbean dove and placed it with the other pigeons in the genus Columba. Linnaeus included a brief description, used Brisson's Latin name Columba jamaicensis as the binomial name and cited the earlier authors.{{cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=Carl | author-link=Carl Linnaeus | year=1766 | title=Systema naturae : per regna tria natura, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis | edition=12th | volume=1, Part 1 | publisher=Laurentii Salvii | place=Holmiae (Stockholm) | language=Latin | page=283 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42946479 }} The species is now placed in the genus Leptotila that was introduced by the English naturalist William Swainson in 1837 with the Caribbean dove as the type species.{{ cite book | last=Swainson | first=William | author-link=William Swainson | year=1837 | title=On the Natural History and Classification of Birds | volume=2 | place=London | publisher=John Taylor | page=349 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41945127 }} A molecular genetic study has shown that the Caribbean dove is most closely related to the white-tipped dove (L. verreauxi).{{ cite journal | last1=Banks | first1=R.C. | last2=Weckstein | first2=J.D. | last3=Remsen Jr | first3=J.V. | last4=Johnson | first4=K.P. | year=2013 | title=Classification of a clade of New World doves (Columbidae: Zenaidini) | journal=Zootaxa | volume=3669 | issue=2 | pages=184–188 | doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3669.2.11 | pmid=26312335 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256980440 }}{{ cite journal | last1=Johnson | first1=K.P. | last2=Weckstein | first2=J.D. | year=2011 | title=The Central American land bridge as an engine of diversification in New World doves | journal=Journal of Biogeography | volume=38 | issue=6 | pages=1069–1076 | doi=10.1111/j.1365-2699.2011.02501.x | bibcode=2011JBiog..38.1069J | s2cid=55082580 }}

Four subspecies are recognised:

• L. j. collaris (Cory, 1886)
• L. j. gaumeri (Lawrence, 1885)
• L. j. jamaicensis (Linnaeus, 1766)
• L. j. neoxena (Cory, 1887)

The Caribbean dove is {{convert|29|to|33|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and weighs {{convert|117|to|190|g|oz|abbr=on}}. The adult male of the nominate subspecies has a white forehead, face, and throat; a gray hindcrown; and an iridescent purple nape. The mantle and the sides of the neck are rosy red with an iridescent green and/or purple gloss. The entire underparts are white. The upperparts are olive-brown with a white band showing in front of the folded wing. The tail's inner feathers are grayish brown and the outer ones black with white tips. The eye is white or white with a red ring and is surrounded by bare dull purple skin. The legs and feet are red. The female is similar to the male but with duller iridescence. Juveniles are similar to the adults but duller and many feathers have reddish edges.

L. j. collaris is similar to the nominate subspecies but is smaller on average. L. j. gaumeri is slightly smaller than the nominate; its upperparts' olive cast is darker, the breast has a reddish cast, and the iridescence is less bright. L. j. neoxena is intermediate in size and color between the nominate and L. j. gaumeri.

The subspecies of the Caribbean dove are found thus:

• L. j. collaris - Cayman Islands
• L. j. gaumeri - Mexico's northern Yucatán Peninsula, Isla Mujeres, Isla Holbox, and Cozumel; Belize's Ambergris Caye; Barbareta, Roatán, and Little Hog islands of Honduras
• L. j. jamaicensis - Jamaica; introduced to New Providence, Bahamas
• L. j. neoxena - Colombia's San Andrés island off eastern Nicaragua

In most of its range, the Caribbean dove inhabits semi-arid lowlands, with a preference for areas with some shrub or tree cover. In Jamaica, it inhabits dry limestone forest, especially foothills secondary forest, and is found as high as {{convert|2000|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the Blue Mountains.

The Caribbean dove forages on the ground. In Jamaica, it has been documented feeding on seeds and small snails.

The Caribbean dove's breeding season spans from March to May. It usually places its nest low to the ground in a tree or shrub, but has nested higher and on the ground. Its usual clutch is two eggs.

{{birdsong|url=https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Leptotila-jamaicensis |species=Caribbean dove}}

The Caribbean dove's song is "a rather rhythmic series of four mournful monotonous notes, with emphasis on the last one 'wo-o-o-oooooo'."

The IUCN has assessed the Caribbean dove as being of Least Concern. Though it is uncommon on several of the smaller islands in its range, it is locally common in Jamaica and common on the Yucatán Peninsula.

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons-inline}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q943451}}

Caribbean Dove

Category:Birds of the Caribbean

Category:Birds of the Bahamas

Category:Birds of the Cayman Islands

Category:Birds of Colombia

Category:Birds of Honduras

Category:Birds of Jamaica

Category:Birds of the Yucatán Peninsula

Caribbean dove

Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus