top of page

Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Pigeons and Doves (Order Columbiformes)

-Pigeons and Doves (Family Columbidae)

-Leptotila Doves (Genus Leptotila)

-White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)


The White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi) is a medium-sized bird in the dove family (Columbidae), native to the Americas. It is found in a wide range of habitats, including forests, woodlands, scrublands, and even urban areas from the southern United States through Central and South America. Pale grayish-brown upperparts with a slight pinkish or rufous tinge. A distinctive white tip on the tail, visible in flight. The face has a bluish or grayish eye-ring. Primarily seeds, berries, and small fruits; occasionally feeds on small invertebrates.

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Diet

  • Primarily seeds of grasses, herbs, shrubs, and trees.

  • Also feeds on small fruits, berries, fallen figs, and occasionally insects and other small invertebrates.

  • Forages mainly on the ground, walking slowly through leaf litter beneath dense vegetation.

Range

  • Found from southern Texas through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and much of South America to northern Argentina.

  • Widespread throughout Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region, where it is a common year-round resident.

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, thorn scrub, woodland edges, gallery forests, second-growth, gardens, plantations, and dense shrubby habitats.

  • Most common in lowland and foothill forests from sea level to about 2,000 m.

Male / Female

  • Male: Grey head and breast with a subtle pinkish or lavender sheen on the neck, brown upperparts, bright red orbital skin around the eye, and distinctive white tips on the outer tail feathers. Slightly larger than the female.

  • Female: Similar in appearance but generally duller, with less pink or lavender iridescence on the neck and breast.

  • Sexes are difficult to distinguish in the field, with the male typically showing slightly richer coloration.

Size

  • Length: 26–29 cm (10.2–11.4 in)

  • Wingspan: 43–47 cm (17–18.5 in)

  • Weight: 140–200 g

bottom of page