Malayan cuckoo pigeon

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Malayan cuckoo pigeon
Malay cuckoo pigeons, the male in front

Malay cuckoo pigeons, the male in front

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Pigeon birds (Columbiformes)
Family : Pigeons (Columbidae)
Genre : Cuckoo Doves ( Macropygia )
Type : Malayan cuckoo pigeon
Scientific name
Macropygia unchall
( Wagler , 1827)

The Malay cuckoo pigeon ( Macropygia unchall ), also known as the black-tailed cuckoo pigeon, is a species of pigeon birds. It occurs in several subspecies only in Southeast Asia.

Appearance

The Malayan cuckoo pigeon reaches a body length between 37 and 40 centimeters. It is therefore significantly larger than a laughing dove and has a longer tail. There is a gender dimorphism . The female has a brown breast and head color. The plumage is more clearly banded.

The male's front head and throat are brownish. The top of the head and the neck merge into gray, but are interspersed with wine-red feathers. The top of the body is dark brown and all feathers are lined with a broad, iridescent dark green. The neck and chest are gray-brown. The feathers are broadly lined with dark, so that, including the belly, the plumage appears sparse. The under tail covers are ocher colored. The control springs are wide and rounded at the ends. As is characteristic of cuckoo pigeons, the middle tail feathers are particularly long and broad. The feet are noticeably short and red. The claws and beak are black.

Females are like males. With them only the neck and chest plumage is clogged.

distribution and habitat

Malay cuckoo pigeons are a Southeast Asian species of pigeon. Its distribution area extends over Kashmir , Burma , southeast China, Laos , South Vietnam , Hainan , the Malacca peninsula and the islands of Sumatra , Java and Lombok . Their habitat are mountain forests at medium altitudes. They occur mainly in clearings and forest edges.

behavior

Malay cuckoo pigeons are predominantly tree-dwelling pigeons. The pigeons look clumsy on the ground. In contrast, they are fast and skillfully maneuvering fliers. They live on fruits, berries, buds and young shoots and, to a lesser extent, seeds.

The nest is usually built high in the trees. The clutch consists of only one egg. The breeding season is 14 to 15 days. Both parent birds hover the nestling. He fledged after about 19 days.

Keeping in human care

Malay cuckoo pigeons were first shown at London Zoo in 1876. The first breeding took place in France in 1925. To this day, however, they are only rarely shown and bred. Since they are happy to fly and warmth-loving pigeons, they need very large and heated aviaries. During the breeding season they are aggressive towards other pigeon species. Malayan cuckoo pigeons cared for in human care can get very old. The female of a breeding pair at Wilhelma in Stuttgart died at the age of 18. The male was euthanized at the age of 26 years and 9 months because he was becoming increasingly blind.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Rösler, p. 135
  2. ↑ Münst, p 160
  3. ↑ Rösler, p. 136
  4. ↑ Rösler, p. 136
  5. ↑ Rösler, p. 136 and p. 137 - Rösler bred the species and gives a detailed description of the rearing of the nestling.
  6. ↑ Münst, p 160

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 . M. & H. Schaper Verlag, Alfeld-Hannover 1996, ISBN 3-7944-0184-0 .

Web link