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Purplish-backed Quail-Dove is a seldom-seen resident of the foothills
throughout much of Panama, in much of its range perhaps more shy than actually rare.
But it is definitely uncommon on Cerro Gaital in eastern Coclé Province, where it was not known to science
until recent years. I remember my first sighting of this species, when, in July of 2005, Canopy Lodge guide Danilo
Rodríguez managed to echo-locate a calling bird perched high in a tree at least 50 meters away from our small group.
I did not see the species again until January of 2007, when I enjoyed an extraordinary bit of luck. I was hiking alone early one morning on Cerro Gaital,
and visibility was terrible due to a thick, pea-soup fog (not an uncommon weather condition on Cerro Gaital). I saw a bit of movement ahead of me on the trail,
a quickly locked on to a Thrush-like Schiffornis, a species that is fairly common in the area, albeit a good find out in the open. Then I noticed a bit of movement
behind the schiffornis, and shifted my focus to find a Purplish-backed Quail-Dove, slowly but steadily walking away from me. Although the foggy conditions did not permit me to capture video, I happily observed it for several seconds before
it disappeared into the forest, and in moving forward quietly could not relocate the bird. But the moment had not passed; I paused a few meters ahead to take measure of a pair of horses that some fool was allowing to graze in a small clearing
(illegal in this National Monument), and at some point turned to look back from whence I came. Miraculously, the Quail-Dove was back on the trail, and this time walking right towards me! I carefully removed my video camera from its pouch, and this time the
bird approached closely enough (within four or five meters) to allow me to capture some decent film, even given the dim lighting conditions. I observed and filmed the bird for perhaps a minute, until it once again casually strolled back into the undergrowth. My
only disappointment was that I did not hear the species calling on the day. I would guess that the foggy weather lent this bird a feeling of security, and I know that only the fact that I was working alone allowed me to approach the dove so quietly. It
was a thrilling and completely unexpected close encounter with this lovely species!
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