Copper pigeon

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Copper pigeon
ColumbaPunicea.jpg

Copper pigeon ( Columba punicea )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Pigeon birds (Columbiformes)
Family : Pigeons (Columbidae)
Genre : Field pigeons ( Columba )
Type : Copper pigeon
Scientific name
Columba punicea
Blyth , 1842

The copper pigeon ( Columba punicea ), also known as the red forest pigeon or purple forest pigeon , is a species of pigeon birds. It occurs exclusively in Southeast Asia. This species was still common at the beginning of the 20th century. The species is now classified as endangered by the IUCN . The population is estimated at only 2,500 to 10,000 individuals.

Appearance

The copper pigeon reaches a body length of 33.5 centimeters. It is roughly the size of a city pigeon. Compared to this, however, the wings of the copper pigeon are shorter, the tail is longer. The front head is strikingly flat. There is a gender dimorphism. In females, the head cap is darker.

The plumage of the copper pigeon is predominantly copper-brown to purple-brown. In contrast to this, the head and neck are silver-gray. The forehead, crown and neck are gray-white to slate-gray. The hand wings and the larger wing cover feathers as well as the tail are black. The under tail-coverts are dark gray. The beak is purple at the base and brightens light gray towards the tip. The iris is orange. The feet are red.

Distribution area and habitat

The distribution area of ​​the copper pigeon is very disjoint. It occurs in East India, Bangladesh, Burma, parts of Thailand and in the south of Tibet as well as in Hainan. The species has also been observed in Laos and Vietnam. It is a rare species in its entire range. The cause of the population decline is the loss of suitable habitats. Only in Vietnam does it seem to occur in greater numbers.

The copper pigeon is a lowland dweller who needs evergreen forests. It also colonizes mangroves , secondary forests and forest rivers. The species thus seems to be very adaptable at first. However, the sharp decline in the number of the species suggests that it has specific habitat requirements. Deforestation and even minor logging as well as the conversion of forests into agricultural areas lead to population declines everywhere. It may also be hunted on a small scale.

Way of life

The copper pigeon is mainly observed individually or in pairs. It is a predominantly tree-dwelling species. Its diet includes fruits, seeds and berries. It is very common in eating wild figs and has been seen eating bamboo seeds. It looks for its food mainly in the tree branches, but occasionally comes to the ground to look for food. On cultivated land it eats rice and other seeds.

The clutch consists of an egg. A breeding period of 17 days and a nestling period of 22 days were found in copper pigeons kept in human care.

Keeping in human care

Copper pigeons were first imported to France in 1945. However, a larger number of copper pigeons did not reach Europe until 1995. These pigeons were bred in the same year.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b BirdLife Factsheet , accessed June 27, 2009
  2. ↑ Rösler
  3. ↑ Gibbs, p. 202
  4. ↑ Rösler, p. 93
  5. ↑ Münst, p 159

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 .

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