Key West quail-dove

Scientific name: Geotrygon chrysia

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

This small dove is iridescent bronze-green above with a distinctive white facial stripe and russet underparts. Males show brighter iridescence on the head and neck; females are duller overall. Size is compact and plump-bodied.

Size and weight

Adults weigh 110–150 g; body length 20–25 cm. Sexes are similar in size but males average slightly heavier.

Habitat

Key West quail-doves inhabit dense scrubby thickets, hardwood hammocks, and understory vegetation in tropical and subtropical lowlands. They prefer areas with heavy leaf litter and low, tangled brush for ground foraging and cover.

Distribution

Endemic to the Florida Keys, Cuba, and nearby Caribbean islands. Within range, they are found exclusively in mature hardwood hammocks and dense tropical scrub, avoiding open areas.

Diet

Key West quail-doves forage on the ground for fallen seeds, berries, and small fruits, with preference shifting toward available seasonal mast and fruiting vegetation.

Behaviour

They are primarily ground feeders, walking quietly through leaf litter with heads lowered. Most active at dawn and dusk, they are shy and solitary or in pairs, flushing explosively when disturbed and flying low through dense cover.

Hunting tips

Look for fine scratch marks and small cleared spots in deep leaf litter indicating recent foraging activity. Approach quietly along hammock edges during early morning or late afternoon when birds are feeding. Move slowly through thick cover, pausing frequently to listen for soft wing flutters or the characteristic whip-like alarm call that reveals flushed birds.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

Bahamas

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.