Alberta pigeon
| Alberta pigeon | ||||||||||
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Alberta pigeon |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Gymnophaps albertisii | ||||||||||
| Salvadori , 1874 |
The Albertistaube ( Gymnophaps albertisii ), also known as the naked -eyed pigeon or Papuan mountain pigeon, is a species of pigeon birds. It occurs exclusively in Southeast Asia.
Appearance
The Albertistaube reaches a body length of 33 to 36 centimeters. In terms of body length, it is roughly the same as that of a medium-sized domestic pigeon . Compared to this, their tail and wings are longer.
The plumage is predominantly dark gray. The feathers of the wing covers are lined with black so that a scale pattern is created here. The ear patches as well as the throat and the belly are reddish brown. The breast is cream colored. The feet are reddish. The iris is red with an orange outer ring. The beak is gray and pale pink towards the tip.
distribution and habitat
The Albertistaube has its distribution focus on New Guinea. It is also found on the neighboring islands of Yapen , Goodenough and the Bismarck Islands near New Britain and New Ireland . It occurs on the latter two islands, but is relatively rare. Also Bacan , one of the islands of the Moluccas is settled in small numbers from her.
The Albertistaube is a type of primary mountain and hill forest. It is occasionally observed in New Guinea up to an altitude of 3,350 meters. Flying swarms are occasionally observed in the lowlands, but they do not seem to use this habitat.
behavior
The Albertistaube usually occurs in flocks. These usually comprise ten to forty individuals, but flocks of up to 80 pigeons are also observed again and again. They are most commonly seen when crossing lowlands in these flocks high in the air. If they fly low, a loud flight noise can be heard as an instrumental sound.
The Albertistaube eats various fruits. Cryptocarya tesselata , the various planchonella species, Ascarina philippinensis and various fig species take up a large part of the food spectrum . It seems to live partially nomadic, which means that the population numbers fluctuate strongly on the islands that are less frequently populated by this species. They spend their rest time high in the mountain forests and then go to lower areas to feed. They often slide down several hundred meters at high speed with their wings bent back.
The Albertistaube has a striking courtship behavior, in which the males slide quickly down the mountain slopes and then gain height again with rapid wing beats. The breeding season falls mainly in the months of October to March, but young birds have been observed all year round. The nest is built in trees or on ledges and is a small, loosely assembled platform. The clutch consists of an egg.
supporting documents
Individual evidence
literature
- Thomas Breuer: Albertistauben - Housing and breeding experiences in Cologne Zoo , Gefiederte Welt, 136th year, 2012, issue 1, page 13ff.
- 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 .
- 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 .
Web links
- Gymnophaps albertisii inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2013.