Bronze wing pigeon
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Bronze-winged pigeon ( Phaps chalcoptera ) |
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| ( Latham , 1790) |
The bronze winged pigeon ( Phaps chalcoptera ) is a species from the genus of the bronze winged pigeons ( Phaps ) within the family of the pigeons (Columbidae). It occurs with three subspecies exclusively in Australia . It owes its name to the spots on its wing covers. These spots shimmer green, turquoise, bronze to purple, depending on the light conditions.
Appearance
The bronze-winged pigeon reaches a body length of 33 to 35 centimeters, making it the largest species within the bronze-winged pigeon genus . Their size corresponds roughly to that of a domestic pigeon, but their body shape is somewhat stocky. The head is small in relation to the body size. The gender dimorphism is only slightly pronounced.
The males of the bronze-winged pigeon have a light ocher forehead. The top of the head and the nape of the neck are brown. A dark streak runs from the base of the beak to the eye. A white stripe runs over the eye and below from the eye to the ear spot. The cheeks and sides of the neck are bluish gray. The throat is gray-white to white. The coat and back are dark brown. The individual feathers have pale yellow-brown seams, so that the plumage on the upper side of the body looks very speckled. The chest is dull wine red. The under tail-coverts are gray.
The outer wing covers are blue-gray and have large, bronze-green to bronze-red iridescent spots. These are arranged in transverse rows on the closed wings. The beak is dark gray, the feet are reddish.
Females differ from males by having a slightly grayer forehead. They lack the shine on the top of the head and their wing covers have a greenish sheen.
Distribution area and habitat
The bronze-winged pigeon is common in several subspecies in large parts of Australia as well as Tasmania. Among the bronze winged pigeons, it is the species most closely related to the forest. However, it also populates open areas with shrubs and trees as well as agricultural areas. It depends on fresh water, but does not necessarily stay near water points. Bronze winged pigeons often fly several kilometers to take in water.
behavior
The bronze winged pigeon is highly adapted to life on the ground. It only looks for its food here, which mainly consists of seeds. The food spectrum now includes wheat imported into Australia as well as acacia seeds and the seeds of the tree species Gastrolobium bilobum , which is poisonous for numerous other animals. The venom of this plant is deposited in the intestines and bones of the bronze winged pigeon. In addition to seeds, small snails and insects are also consumed to a small extent.
Your activity peaks are in the early morning and late afternoon. She spends the hot time of the day in the shade, either on the ground or resting on a low branch. The nest is built on horizontal forks of branches. It has an average diameter of 25 centimeters and a thickness of seven to 10 centimeters.
Keeping in human care
The bronze winged pigeon was first shown in Europe in 1844 at the Amsterdam Zoo . The first breeding took place in France in 1863. Today they are considered to be easy to keep wild pigeons that can reach a high age if they are kept in a species-appropriate aviary. It is considered very easy to socialize with other pigeons. However, there must never be a greater number of males than females in the aviary. It only shows aggressive behavior towards its closely related bush pigeon . It is dependent on shelter for its wintering in Central Europe.
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Web links
- Phaps chalcoptera inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Endangered Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
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 .