Moraine pigeon
| Moraine pigeon | ||||||||||
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Moreno dove ( Metriopelia morenoi ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Metriopelia morenoi | ||||||||||
| ( Sharpe , 1902) |
The Moreno dove ( Metriopelia morenoi ) is a species of the pigeon birds and belongs to the subfamily of the American pigeons . Like the cordilleras and spectacle pigeons belonging to the same genus, it is a resident of the South American highlands. The species is not considered endangered in its population.
Appearance
The moraine pigeon reaches a body length of up to 20 centimeters. The physique is compact. A sexual dimorphism is only very slight in this species. In the female, only the dark circles are a little more dull in color than in the male and the plumage is a little dull overall.
The plumage of the Moreno dove is predominantly dull brown. The plumage on the head is a little grayish than the body plumage. The throat is light gray. Compared to the top of the body, the chest is lighter and rather pale gray-brown. Towards the belly, the plumage turns yellowish brown. The under tail-coverts are red-brown. The plumage on the top of the body is dull brown. Like the eyeglass pigeon, the Moreno pigeon also has noticeable dark circles. The first eye ring is wide and bright orange. It is surrounded by a second, narrow black eye ring.
Distribution area and way of life
The moraine pigeon has only a small distribution area. It occurs exclusively in northwest Argentina. Its height distribution ranges from 1,800 to 3,200 meters above sea level. The habitat are arid and semi-arid habitats and the species is also found in the Puna . The population is mainly sandy and rocky slopes with light vegetation, as well as habitats with shrubs and cacti in the heights below the Puna. It also lives in the vicinity of human settlements and uses cultivated land to forage.
The moraine pigeon is considered to be a resident bird, as it has not yet been observed outside of its small distribution area. It is a ground-dwelling pigeon species that is inconspicuous due to its plumage. If it is startled, it flies up with a loud clap of wings. It mainly eats seeds. All that is known of the reproductive habits is that the clutch consists of two eggs.
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 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
- Metriopelia morenoi inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.1. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2013.