Coastal pigeon
| Coastal pigeon | ||||||||||
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_male.JPG)
Coast pigeon, male |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Zenaida aurita | ||||||||||
| ( Temminck , 1809) |
The coastal pigeon ( Zenaida aurita ) is a species of pigeon birds. It occurs in Central America and some islands in the Caribbean. Its existence is not considered to be endangered. In the Florida Keys , which used to be part of their range, the coastal pigeon is now extinct.
Appearance
The coastal pigeon reaches a body length of 28 to 30.5 centimeters. It is slightly larger than a laughing pigeon, but has a more compact body shape and has longer legs compared to this type of pigeon. In its appearance, it is very similar to both the Carolina dove and the lattice dove . The gender dimorphism is only slightly pronounced. In the case of the females, only the upper side of the body is not as distinctly reddish-brown as it is in the case of the males.
The head and neck of the coastal pigeon are reddish brown. Both behind the eye and under the eye there are dark, iridescent stripes. The coat, the back and the wings are reddish brown. The wrist wings are dark, the outer arm wings are black with white tips. The belly and the underside of the tail are white. The beak is reddish at the base and otherwise dark. The iris is reddish brown. The feet are reddish.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the coastal pigeon ranges from the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico to the Greater and Lesser Antilles . The inhabited Caribbean islands include the Bahamas , Cuba , Puerto Rico , Jamaica and Hispaniola as well as the Virgin Islands . In some regions their populations have declined after white-winged pigeons and earspotted pigeons opened up in this range. Nevertheless, the coastal pigeon is not considered endangered. It is common in some regions of its range.
The habitat of the coastal pigeon are open woodlands, mangrove swamps and cultivated lands. The coastal pigeon has its main distribution in the coastal lowlands.
behavior
The coastal pigeon is a resident bird. Unlike the ear spot pigeon belonging to the same genus, no noticeable seasonal migrations of this pigeon species are known. It is a predominantly ground-dwelling species of pigeon that often shows little shyness towards humans. The food spectrum consists of seeds and berries.
The breeding time depends on the respective distribution area. In Puerto Rico, coastal pigeons breed throughout the year. The peak of the breeding season is between February and March. This pigeon breeds on the Virgin Island from May to August. The nest is a loosely assembled platform made of branches that is erected in the undergrowth or between creepers. However, it also breeds on the ground if ground-based predators are not frequent in their respective area of distribution. The clutch consists of one or two creamy white eggs. The breeding season is 13 to 15 days. The young birds fledge after 13 to 15 days.
Keeping in human care
The coastal pigeon was first kept in Europe from 1861 by the London Zoo. The first European breeding took place in France in 1888. The coastal pigeon is considered incompatible with other pigeons. However, it is not quite as aggressive as it is the case with the Socorrotaube belonging to the same genus .
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 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
Web links
- Zenaida aurita inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2014.