Figure 1. Two species of Leptotila doves occur in Ceará, namely L. verreauxi and L. rufaxilla. These species look so similar to each other, that even experienced observers have difficulties to tell them apart in the field. See for example Belton 2003, and Pinto 1949, p. 301.

In the study sites, so far, I found only one Leptotila species. Tentatively, I have classified it as L. verreauxi, based on the vocalizations. Click here for details.

There are probably morphological differences as well (periorbital skin?), but I found the literature unconclusive, and I have not yet seen L. rufaxilla in Ceará myself. This text will be updated when more reliable information becomes available.

Figure 2. Tail fan in flight. The outer, ventral rectrizes are white-tipped, hence the English name White-tipped Dove. The name is not too meaningful, though, because the other species in the genus Leptotila also have white-tipped tails (Pinto 1949).

Figure 3.