African bush pigeons
| African bush pigeons | ||||||||
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Steel spot pigeon ( Turtur afer ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||
| Turtur | ||||||||
| Boddaert , 1783 |
African bush pigeons ( Turtur ) are a genus of pigeon birds . The genus includes five species, all of which have a relatively large distribution area in Africa.
Appearance
African bush pigeons are small pigeons in size between the Diamanttäubchen and Lachtaube lie. The smallest species is the bronze spot dove , which only reaches a height of 20 centimeters. The largest species is the maiden pigeon with a body length of 25 centimeters. The body shape is compact.
The characteristic features of the African bush pigeon include the iridescent spots on the shoulders (on the large wing covers). The color of these spots varies between green, blue or dark gray to black, depending on the species.
distribution and habitat
African bush pigeons colonize sub-Saharan Africa and are only absent in the south-west of the African continent. The northern limit of distribution runs roughly from Senegal to the Blue Nile and Ethiopia . They are predominantly bush dwellers. They are also found in tree-lined areas when there is plenty of undergrowth.
behavior
African bush pigeons find their food almost exclusively on the ground. However, they boom to sleep, rest, and nest. The clutch consists of two eggs. The incubation period is between 13 and 15 days. The nestling period is between 13 and 17 days.
Keeping in human care
Some species of African bush pigeons were imported as ornamental birds as early as the second half of the 19th century. Some of them are still very popular aviary birds today. You need aviaries with a high level of sunlight. When kept with little sun, they tend to have melanistic deposits in the plumage.
species
- Bronze spot dove ( Turtur chalcospilos )
- Ore pigeon ( Turtur abyssinicus )
- Steel spot pigeon ( Turtur afer )
- Tambourine pigeon ( Turtur tympanistria )
- Maiden dove ( Turtur brehmeri )
supporting documents
Individual evidence
literature
- David Gibbs, Eustace Barnes and John Cox: Pigeons and Doves - A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World . Pica Press, Sussex 2001, ISBN 90-74345-26-3 .
- Alois Münst and Josef Wolters: Tauben - The species of wild pigeons , 2nd expanded and revised edition, Verlag Karin Wolters, Bottrop 1999, ISBN 3-9801504-9-6 .
- Gerhard Rösler: The wild pigeons of the earth - free living, keeping and breeding . M. & H. Schaper Verlag, Alfeld-Hannover 1996, ISBN 3-7944-0184-0 .
