Bird Guide

Caribbean Dove vs Pallid Dove

Caribbean Dove (Leptotila jamaicensis)

Caribbean Dove

Leptotila jamaicensis

Medium165 gShrubland

The Caribbean dove is 29 to 33 cm (11 to 13 in) long and weighs 117 to 190 g (4.1 to 6.7 oz). 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. Voice: 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'."

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Caribbean Dove
Recorded by Oliver Komar · Song · Cayos Cochinos research station, Honduras · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0
Pallid Dove (Leptotila pallida)

Pallid Dove

Leptotila pallida

Medium123 gForest

The pallid dove is 23 to 26 cm (9.1 to 10.2 in) long. The male has a white forehead, face, and throat, a gray crown, and a purplish gray nape and hindneck. The sides of the neck and the breast are pale red and the belly white. Its upperparts are chestnut-brown with some chestnut-red markings. The hindneck and upper mantle have some purple iridescence. The outer tail feathers are dark chestnut with white tips. The eye is yellow and surrounded by bare red skin. The bill is black and the legs and feet pinkish red to brownish red. Voice: The pallid dove's song is "a single mournful monotonous note 'wooOOOoo' which fades in and out" and is very similar to that of the grey-fronted dove.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Anna Hess · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Caribbean Dove and Pallid Dove.