Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)

Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita) - HBW 4, p. 160

French: Tourterelle à queue carrée German: Liebestaube Spanish: Zenaida Caribeña
Other common names: Pea/Seaside/Wood/Mountain Dove

Taxonomy: Columba Aurita Temminck, 1810, Martinique.
Differs from congeners in having 12 (not 14) rectrices, but unquestionably belongs in this genus. Compared with Z. macroura, present species has shorter and much less graduated tail, proportionately larger legs and feet; very similar song, but with introductory note less frequency modulated. Race salvadorii formerly listed as yucatanensis, but merging of genera Zenaida and Zenaidura made that name unavailable for this taxon. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • salvadorii Ridgway, 1916 - coast ofN Yucatán Peninsula and islands of Cozumel, Holbox and Mujeres.
  • zenaida (Bonaparte, 1825) - Bahamas, Cuba and I of Pines, Cayman Is (Grand, Little, Brac) and Jamaica through Hispaniola and Puerto Rico to Virgin Is; formerly Florida Keys.
  • aurita (Temminck, 1810) - Lesser Antilles from Anguilla (N Leeward Is) to Grenada.