Bush pigeon
| Bush pigeon | ||||||||||
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Bush pigeon ( Phaps elegans ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Phaps elegans | ||||||||||
| ( Temminck , 1810) |
The bush pigeon ( Phaps elegans ), also known as the small bronze-winged pigeon because of its similarity to the bronze-winged pigeon , is a species from the genus of the bronze-winged pigeons ( Phaps ) within the family of the pigeons (Columbidae). As with all bronze winged pigeons, their occurrence is limited to Australia and Tasmania .
Appearance
The bush pigeon reaches a body length of 28 centimeters. It is thus significantly smaller than the bronze-winged pigeon, which reaches a body length between 33 and 35 centimeters. Compared to this, the bush pigeon also has a shorter tail and shorter wings. In terms of plumage, however, the two species are similar. There is only a very small degree of gender dimorphism. The females are only slightly more dull in color than the males.
Bush pigeons have a reddish yellow forehead. The coloration is thus somewhat more intense than that of the bronze-winged pigeon. As with this one, however, a dark stripe of color runs from the base of the beak over the eye, which only ends in the neck. The neck is gray. The rear neck is red-brown. The throat is dark red-brown. The coat, the back and the wings are brownish. The outer wing covers have a metallic sheen. The chest and belly are light gray. The beak is reddish black. The feet and legs are reddish.
Distribution area and behavior
The bush pigeon is found in Tasmania and in the southwest and southeast of Australia. It inhabits open heathland, but also settles swampy terrain and coastal areas. In some areas, the distribution area overlaps with that of the bronze-winged pigeon. Unlike this species, however, the bush pigeon prefers more humid habitats and is generally more tied to life on the ground than this. In the event of danger, it only flies up briefly and takes the next cover to safety. The diet consists of various seeds and berries. Among other things, it also eats wild pepper. Acacia seeds have a large share in the food spectrum of the bush pigeon.
The nest is built either directly on the ground or low in the bushes. The clutch consists of two eggs. The breeding season is 16 days. The young birds leave the nest after 22 days.
Keeping in human care
The bush pigeon is less frequently kept as an ornamental bird than the bronze-winged pigeon. One problem of keeping is the relatively difficult breeding of this species. As a ground-dwelling infestation, it is also very susceptible to worming.
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Web links
- Phaps elegans inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened 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 types 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