Comoros fruit pigeon

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Comoros fruit pigeon
Alectroenas sganzini 1868.jpg

Comoros fruit pigeon ( Alectroenas sganzini )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Pigeon birds (Columbiformes)
Family : Pigeons (Columbidae)
Genre : Blue fruit pigeons ( Alectroenas )
Type : Comoros fruit pigeon
Scientific name
Alectroenas sganzini
( Bonaparte , 1854)

The Comoros fruit pigeon ( Alectroenas sganzini ), also called the blue Comoros fruit pigeon , is a species of pigeon birds . As with all blue fruit pigeons , their range is limited to a few islands off the East African coast. It occurs in two subspecies.

Appearance

The Comoros fruit pigeon is slightly larger than a laughing pigeon and slightly smaller than a city pigeon. The physique, however, is heavy and stocky. The gender dimorphism is only slightly pronounced.

The plumage is predominantly dark blue. The mantle and the outer wings are covered in silver. The head, neck and upper chest are light gray. The neck feathers are similar to the African guinea pigeon long and forked at their end. The featherless dark circles are very large and purple. The iris is yellow and has a red ring on the outside. The beak is olive green at the base and brightens towards the tip. The feet and legs are gray-blue. Females are slightly less contrasty in color than males. With them, the light gray on the neck and chest is a little darker overall. In contrast to the adult birds, juveniles are bronze-colored, olive-green instead of blue.

Distribution area and behavior

The nominate form of the Comoros fruit pigeon colonizes the Comoros . The subspecies Alectroenas sganzini minor , which is slightly smaller, occurs on the Aldabra Islands. Comoros fruit pigeons are inhabitants of evergreen forests. Their food spectrum includes fruits and berries. Like most fruit pigeons, it is a tree-dwelling species.

supporting documents

literature

  • Gerhard Rösler: The wild pigeons of the earth. Free life, keeping and breeding , Verlag M. & H. Schaper, Alfeld-Hannover 1996, ISBN 3-7944-0184-0 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Gerhard Rösler, p. 289.

Web link