According to John James Audubon, the Key-west Dove [present-day Key West quail-dove] “has never been met with elsewhere than on the island of that name. It remains there about five months only.” After reaching Key West on May 6, 1832. Audubon was introduced to a soldier by the name of Sykes. Audubon was told that Sykes was the most familiar with the bird life on the key. As it was for practically every other bird in the Florida Keys, the search for the Key West Quail-Dove was agonizing. Audubon and his fellow explorers moved through the thickets “in truth very slowly, one foot warily advanced before the other, one hand engaged in opening a passage, and presently after occupied in securing the cap on the head.” Cacti hiding in the thickets stuck sharp thorns in legs and feet. Mosquitos attacked by the “dozens.” Shotguns with the gun-locks secured had to be used as hiking sticks, “or in assisting ourselves to rise after a fall.”
Sykes was the first to catch sight of a Key West quail-dove and took aim. “I have it!” Audubon responded, “What?!” Sykes answered, “The pigeon!” Sykes located the downed bird and handed the specimen to Audubon. “Did ever an Egyptian pharmacopolist [sic], employ more care in embalming the most illustrious of the Pharaohs, than I did in trying to preserve from injury this most beautiful of the woodland cooers!” The Key West quail-dove remains almost impossible to see in the United States. The most recorded on Cornell’s e-Bird system is three. Shane Runyon spotted the birds in 2015 on Florida’s Long Key (see eBird Checklist S21573733).