American field pigeons

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American field pigeons
Scaled-neck pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)

Scaled- neck pigeon ( Patagioenas fasciata )

Systematics
Row : Land vertebrates (Tetrapoda)
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Pigeon birds (Columbiformes)
Family : Pigeons (Columbidae)
Genre : American field pigeons
Scientific name
Patagioenas
Reichenbach , 1852
Picazuro pigeon
Salvine pigeon
Red-backed pigeon
Red-billed pigeon , Costa Rica
Bare-eyed pigeon
Antilles pigeon

The American field pigeons ( Patagioenas ) are a new, from the genus Columba ( field pigeons separated) pigeons genus . Like these, they belong to the subfamily of the Columbinae within the order of the pigeon birds . With the scallop pigeon, the largest species of pigeon on the North American continent belongs to this genus.

A genetic analysis by Kevin P. Johnson et al. suggests that the New World species of the genus Columba , which behave like a sister group to Streptoplia ( lovebirds ), should be listed as a separate genus under the name Patagioenas .

features

The American field pigeons include medium to large species of pigeons. Their tail is relatively short compared to the lovebirds . In some species, such as the spotted pigeon, it protrudes only a few centimeters above the upper tail-coverts. Dove-gray-blue to wine-red or brownish plumage colors dominate.

A sexual dimorphism is either not present at all, as is the case with the rose shoulder pigeon, for example, or it is expressed in the fact that the plumage color of the females is somewhat more dull and overall a basic tone that differs slightly from that of the male.

distribution

All species live on the American double continent or on Caribbean islands. The main area of ​​distribution is in Central and South America. On the North American continent they are only represented in the extreme south, with the exception of the scallop pigeon. There the white-headed pigeon and the red-billed pigeon occur. The Antilles pigeon is an occasional stray visitor on the North American continent.

Habitat and way of life

American field pigeons have adapted to a number of very different habitats. The spotted pigeon, for example, inhabits arid and semi-arid regions that only need to have suitable nesting trees. Other species such as the Goodson pigeon and the short-beaked pigeon are pure forest dwellers and only occur in rain-rich tropical forests. Most species come to the ground extremely rarely. An exception is the scaly-necked pigeon, which mainly looks for food on the ground. The Picazuro pigeon has adapted to changes in its habitat and is also increasingly looking for food on the ground.

The diet consists of fruits, berries and seeds. Several of the species in this genus show a preference for mistletoe berries . The nest is basically built in trees and is a loose platform. The clutch usually consists of one egg, more rarely of two eggs.

Duration

Most species of American field pigeons are stable in their population. The Araucanian pigeon , whose populations fell sharply in the middle of the 20th century due to Newcastle disease , have recovered to such an extent that they are common in certain areas. It has therefore been classified as safe again for several years. However, the salvine pigeon , which only occurs in a small area on the South American continent, and the Caribbean pigeon , which is an endemic island species, are considered endangered . The Antilles pigeon is also still common in some areas, but it has meanwhile been exterminated in parts of its historical range. The white-headed pigeon is a flatland inhabitant and is therefore particularly affected by changes in habitat. The IUCN carries them with near threatened (= potentially endangered) on an advance warning level. The rose shoulder pigeon, which occurs on several Caribbean islands, is also listed at this early warning level. The reasons for this pigeon species are not only increasing fragmentation of their habitat, but also considerable hunting pressure, although the pigeon is protected in its entire range. In Puerto Rico there is a protection program in which rose shoulder pigeons raised in captivity are released into the wild.

American pigeons and people

Agricultural pests

Spotted pigeon and red-billed pigeon are considered agricultural pests in some areas of their range because they eat seeds. In the lowlands of Argentina, for example, the spotted pigeon is known to cause major damage to sunflower fields. At the same time, their populations have increased because afforestation offers them more nesting opportunities. The red-billed pigeon mainly eats fruits and berries and is one of the species among the American field pigeons that has a particular predilection for the berries of mistletoe . But it also comes to eat on the ground and goes to germinating grain and millet.

attitude

American field pigeons have been kept in zoo gardens and by pigeon lovers in captivity since at least the 19th century. The white-headed pigeon, for example, was first imported to Europe through the Amsterdam zoo in 1836; the first European breeding was achieved in 1865 by the London zoo . The pigeon-bellied pigeon and the Antillean pigeon , which are clearly marked , were both imported to Europe through the London Zoo in 1868. While the European first breeding of the Antilles pigeon was successful as early as 1876, the worldwide first breeding of the scaly-necked pigeon in captivity was not achieved until 1961 by a breeder in California. In contrast, the Picazuro pigeon is easy to breed. Breeding succeeded in her as early as the middle of the 19th century. However, she is reliant on large aviaries because of her shyness.

Trivia

  • The Goodson pigeon is named after Arthur T. Goodson (1873-1931), who worked as an assistant ornithologist in the British Rothschild Museum, now known as the Natural History Museum at Tring .
  • The subspecies Patjgioenas inornata wetmorei of the rose shoulder pigeon honors the American ornithologist Alexander Wetmore , who has carried out extensive studies on the Latin American avifauna.

species

The following species are included in the genus Patagioenas :

literature

  • Jonathan Alderfer (Ed.): Complete Birds of North America , National Geographic, Washington DC 2006, ISBN 0-7922-4175-4 .
  • 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

Commons : American field pigeons ( Patagioenas )  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Single receipts

  1. ↑ a b Alderfer (Ed.): Complete Birds of North America , p. 298
  2. ↑ Article by Kevin P. Johnson et al. (PDF; 243 kB)
  3. ^ Alderfer (ed.): Complete Birds of North America , p. 297
  4. ↑ Patagioenas araucana in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2012. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2012. Accessed September 25, 2016th
  5. ^ Gibbs, Barnes and Cox: Pigeons and Doves , p. 223.
  6. ↑ Patagioenas caribaea in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2012. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2012. Accessed September 25, 2016th
  7. ↑ Patagioenas oenops in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.1. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  8. ^ Gibbs, Barnes and Cox: Pigeons and Doves , p. 215.
  9. ↑ Patagioenas leucocephala in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2013.1. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  10. ↑ Patagioenas inornata in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2012. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2012. Accessed September 26, 2016th
  11. ^ Gibbs, Barnes and Cox: Pigeons and Doves , p. 228.
  12. ^ Gibbs, Barnes and Cox: Pigeons and Doves , p. 229.
  13. ^ Gibbs, Barnes and Cox: Pigeons and Doves , p. 220.
  14. ^ Gibbs, Barnes and Cox: Pigeons and Doves , p. 226.
  15. ↑ Rösler: The wild pigeons of the earth - free life, keeping and breeding . P. 97.
  16. ↑ Rösler: The wild pigeons of the earth - free life, keeping and breeding . P. 99.
  17. ↑ Rösler: The wild pigeons of the earth - free life, keeping and breeding . P. 98.
  18. ↑ Rösler: The wild pigeons of the earth - free life, keeping and breeding . P. 101.
  19. ↑ Bo Beolens, Watkins, Michael: Whose Bird? Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds . Christopher Helm, London 2003, p. 205.
  20. ↑ Bo Beolens, Watkins, Michael: Whose Bird? Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds . Christopher Helm, London 2003, p. 205.