Crescent dove
| Crescent dove | ||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Streptopelia semitorquata | ||||||||||
| ( Rüppell , 1837) |
The half-moon pigeon ( Streptopelia semitorquata ), also known as the red-eye pigeon , is a type of pigeon bird that belongs to the lovebirds . It is widespread in Africa.
Appearance
The half-moon dove reaches a body length of 30 centimeters. It is slightly larger than the laughing dove and the largest lovebird species in Africa. The head is blue-gray, the front head is a little lighter. The coat and the back are dark gray-brown. The wings of the hand are dark. The outer wing covers are dark slate blue. The black neck band is bordered by silver-gray hems. The chest and belly are strong red-brown. The beak is black. The iris is dark orange.
Young birds have an overall duller color. They also lack the black neck ring, which can only be seen after the juvenile full moult.
distribution and habitat
The half-moon dove occurs in three subspecies in Africa. The nominate form is widespread in eastern Africa from Sudan to northern Ethiopia , the central area of Kenya , Uganda , eastern Congo , Tanzania to Transvaal and Natal . It also occurs in Yemen . The subspecies S. s. minor inhabits the south of Somalia and the coastal area of Kenya. The subspecies S. s. erythrophrys lives in western Africa and settles here from Senegal to Angola .
Their habitat are wooded areas. It mostly colonizes habitats that have larger surface waters in the form of rivers or lakes. It is also found in loosely tree-lined habitats, but is comparatively rare here.
behavior
Like all lovebirds, the half-moon dove finds its food mainly on the ground. However, it stays in trees more often than other lovebirds. It eats seeds, grains, peanuts and berries.
They usually build their nest in a tree or bush. The clutch consists of two eggs.
Keeping in human care
Crescent pigeons were first shown at the Amsterdam Zoo in 1844. They are incompatible aviary birds that can only be kept in pairs. Outside the breeding season, the male can also show aggression towards the female. They are very robust birds and, despite their African origin, can be overwintered in Central Europe in an unheated shelter.
supporting documents
Individual evidence
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 .
Web links
- Videos, photos and sound recordings on Streptopelia semitorquata in the Internet Bird Collection
- Streptopelia semitorquata onthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2013.