Galápagos Dove

The Galápagos Dove. Photo by Chris Minster.

The endemic Galápagos Dove (Zenaida galapagoensis, paloma de Galapagos) is one of the more attractive land birds, with a chestnut-brown back, reddish-brown head and underparts, bright red legs, and a conspicuous pale blue ring around the eye. Active nests are found year-round, but the peak of breeding season usually starts in February. Courtship behavior includes exaggerated flying patterns, a bowing ceremony, and the males’ release of a deep, quiet cooing call. The female will lay two eggs in nests built under rocks or vacated by mockingbirds.

The curved shape of the Galápagos Dove’s bill is indicative of its chosen food: seeds picked from the ground, mainly dropped by the opuntia cactus. They will also take caterpillars and insect larvae. The Galápagos dove can be seen in the drier areas of most islands; Darwin and Wolf harbor a larger subspecies of the same bird.

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