General

Ruddy Quail-Dove: Medium-sized dove, rufous overall with pale buff throat, streak under eye, and belly. Female has dark olive-brown upperparts, cinnamon-brown breast, pale buff underparts, and lacks streak under eye.

Range and Habitat

Ruddy Quail-Dove: Native of Mexico, Central American, and South America, but a rare vagrant in the southern U.S. Found in semi-arid and humid woodlands, scrub, and forests.

Breeding and Nesting

Ruddy Quail-Dove: Two buff eggs are laid in a nest made of leaves and sticks, and built on the ground or low in a tree, up to 8 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 10 to 11 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Ruddy Quail-Dove: Eats fallen fruits, seeds, and small snails; forages on the ground.

Vocalization

Ruddy Quail-Dove: Call is a low, melancholy, booming coo "whooooooo" or "oooooooooh."

Similar Species

Ruddy Quail-Dove: Key West Quail-Dove is larger, has proportionally longer tail, white chin, throat, and underparts, and chestnut-brown upperparts glossed with green and purple.