Glossy pigeon
| Glossy pigeon | ||||||||||
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Bright-headed pigeon, male |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Columba iriditorques | ||||||||||
| Cassin , 1856 |
The gloss- headed pigeon ( Columba iriditorques ), also known as the bronze- necked pigeon , is a species of pigeon birds. It occurs exclusively in western Africa.
The stock situation of the great-headed pigeon was classified in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016 as " Least Concern (LC) " = "not endangered".
features
The gloss-headed pigeon reaches a body length of 25 centimeters and remains a little smaller than a laughing pigeon , but it has a somewhat more compact body structure than this. It weighs between 120 and 130 grams. There is a pronounced gender dimorphism .
In the male, the face, forehead and crown are blue-gray and merge into an iridescent emerald green on the nape and back of the neck . The coat is bright purple and ends in an iridescent emerald green ribbon. The wings are gray-black, the back and rump are dark blue-gray. The chest and belly are mauve . The under tail coverts are maroon. The beak is blue-gray and brightens towards the tip. The iris is pink, the eye ring is red. The feet and legs are pale red to light red.
In the female, the vertex is ash-brown, the neck is shiny bronze-brown. The chin and throat are isabel colored , the chest and belly are brownish gray.
Young birds are generally duller in color and have more brown plumage.
Possible confusion
The distribution area of the gloss-headed pigeon borders on the distribution areas of three other field pigeons and partially overlaps with them.
The white-nosed dove ( Columba albinucha ) is significantly larger and has a white neck. It also lacks the iridescent sheen on the head or neck. The red-billed olive pigeon ( Columba sjostedti ) is also significantly larger and has chestnut and gray wings, the wing covers are spotted white. The chest and the back belly are dark maroon. The cinnamon pigeon ( Columba larvata ) has no iridescent plumage and is a ground dweller.
Distribution area and habitat
The distribution area of the great-headed pigeon is western Africa from Sierra Leone to the north of Angola and the Congo area. The distribution area is not contiguous on the West African coast. The populations in Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Ghana are isolated from one another. The largest contiguous stocks are in the area of the Congo . In large parts of the distribution area, the gloss-headed pigeon is a rare species of pigeon. It is believed, however, that the pigeon is more often overlooked because of its secret way of life.
The habitat of the glossy-headed pigeon are evergreen, moist forests of the lowlands near water. It also uses secondary forest when it is a little more developed.
Way of life
The glossy head pigeon is a shy forest dweller who lives in pairs or in small groups. It finds its food mainly in the treetops. Occasionally it is also associated with Congo pigeons ( Columba unicincta ). Their wide range of foods includes fruits and berries.
The reproductive behavior of the great-headed pigeon has not yet been conclusively investigated. Breeding birds have been observed in Liberia from March to September, in Zaire from December to March and in Zambia in October. However, there are only a few observations in each case as the pigeon is difficult to spot in the treetops. The only nest found until 2001 was a loose platform of twigs that was just 1.2 meters above the ground. Shiny-headed pigeons only lay a single egg.
attitude
Bright-headed pigeons were first imported through the London Zoo in 1928. In 1978 a total of 15 individuals were imported into Germany, but no breeding was possible.
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 . Verlag M. & H. Schaper, Alfeld Hannover 1996, ISBN 3-7944-0184-0 .
Web links
- Columba iriditorques in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2012. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2012. Accessed October 17, 2016th
- Handbook of the Birds of the World: Brilliant-headed pigeon
- Avibase: glossy pigeon
Single receipts
- ↑ Columba iriditorques in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2016 Posted by: BirdLife International, 2016. Retrieved on 3 October 2017th
- ↑ a b Gibbs, Barnes and Cox: Pigeons and Doves , p. 233.
- ↑ a b c d Gibbs, Barnes and Cox: Pigeons and Doves , p. 234.
- ↑ Rösler: The wild pigeons of the earth . P. 108