Luzon dagger stinging dove
| Luzon dagger stinging dove | ||||||||||||
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Luzon dagger stinging dove |
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| Gallicolumba luzonica | ||||||||||||
| ( Scopoli , 1786) |
The Luzon dagger-stinging pigeon ( Gallicolumba luzonica ) is a species of pigeon birds. It is one of the so-called dagger stabbing pigeons , so called because they have a blood-red stain on the upper chest that resembles a bleeding stab wound. Like all dagger-pigeons, it occurs exclusively in the Philippines.
Appearance
The Luzon dagger-stinging pigeon reaches a body length of 28 to 30 centimeters. It weighs an average of 200 grams. It is about the size of a city pigeon. In its shape, however, it is reminiscent of American earth pigeons . The gender dimorphism is not very pronounced.
The plumage is dark to lead gray on the upper side of the body and shines purple to greenish. The forehead and skull are ash gray. The throat and chest are white, the lower chest and belly are cream to leather-colored. The elytra are gray. Two brown bandages run over them. The gray tail feathers have a black band at the end. The under tail covers are ocher colored. The beak is gray to dark gray. The iris is reddish brown. The featherless dark circles are gray. Feet and legs are red. The females are similar to the males, but their colors are overall slightly more matt. The chest spot is also slightly smaller than that of the males. The head is also a bit narrower and more delicate.
Luzon stinging pigeons only rarely fly up. When alarmed, they try to escape continuously.
distribution and habitat
The Luzon dagger-stinging pigeon is now only found on the Philippine islands of Luzon and the Polillo archipelago . Their habitat are primary and secondary evergreen deciduous forests. They are mostly pigeons living on the ground. They are considered shy and live hidden in the forest thicket. Only the man's position calls are conspicuous, which have a plaintive effect on people.
behavior
The blood-red spot plays a role in courtship when the males present it to the female by pushing the tail down and the chest up. The courtship behavior also includes a wing lift, in which the wings are almost completely pushed down. The females indicate their willingness to mate by trembling their wings. The male also shows such wing tremors when presenting suitable nesting sites to the female.
The nest is built low in shrubs or trees. The clutch consists of two eggs. The incubation period is 17 days. The young birds leave the nest after twelve days.
Keeping in human care
Luzon dagger pigeons were first shown at the London Zoo in 1869. The offspring succeeded in France in 1871. However, it makes high demands on its accommodation and needs a large and well-planted aviary with a shelter.
supporting documents
Individual evidence
literature
- David Burnie (Ed.): Vögel , Munich 2008, Dorling Kindersley, ISBN 978-3-8310-1272-5 .
- 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 .
Web links
- Gallicolumba luzonica inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Endangered Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2013.