• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species is classified as Near Threatened because it is suspected to be declining moderately rapidly as suitable habitat is lost to expansion of plantation agriculture and infrastructure development within its small range. However, the range is not yet severely fragmented or restricted to few locations.

Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as 'uncommon' (Stotz et al. 1996).

Trend justification
There are no data on population trends; however, habitat loss and degradation are suspected to be causing a slow to moderate decline. Forest loss within the species's range is currently estimated at ~4% over three generations (Tracewski et al. 2016), and the species is further trapped for consumption and the cagebird trade (BirdLife Jamaica in litt. 1998).

Geotrygon versicolor is endemic to Jamaica, where it is locally fairly common, it is perhaps most numerous in the Blue Mountains and Cockpit Country (Bond 1984, Downer and Sutton 1990, BirdLife Jamaica in litt. 1998, Stattersfield et al. 1998). It also occurs in the John Crow Mountains and Mt. Diablo area (Baptista et al. 1997).

The species is found singly or in pairs on the floor of wet limestone and montane forests at elevations of 100-2,200 m, preferring areas with a relatively undisturbed understorey. The breeding season lasts from March until June.

Despite occurring commonly in good, wet secondary forest (BirdLife Jamaica in litt. 1998), it suffers from habitat loss and degradation (Haynes et al. 1989). Habitat loss has been largely caused by the establishment of plantations (mostly coffee and Caribbean pine Pinus caribaea), small-scale farming and clearance for development (Dinerstein et al. 1995) and forest loss is currently estimated at ~4% over three generations throughout its range (Tracewski et al. 2016). It is also trapped for local consumption and the cage-bird trade (BirdLife Jamaica in litt. 1998).

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Ensure effective protection of reserves where the species occurs, particularly in its strongholds in the Blue Mountains and Cockpit Country. Conduct a public education campaign to reduce trapping. Monitor populations in key sites.

Text account compilers
Everest, J.

Contributors
Benstead, P., BirdLife Jamaica, Capper, D., Mahood, S. & Sharpe, C.J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Crested Quail-Dove Geotrygon versicolor. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/crested-quail-dove-geotrygon-versicolor on 20/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 20/12/2024.