Pearl neck dove

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Pearl neck dove
Pearl-necked pigeon (Spilopelia chinensis)

Pearl-necked pigeon ( Spilopelia chinensis )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Pigeon birds (Columbiformes)
Family : Pigeons (Columbidae)
Genre : Spilopelia
Type : Pearl neck dove
Scientific name
Spilopelia chinensis
( Scopoli , 1768)
Pearl-necked pigeon, Australia
Pearl-necked pigeon in Kolkata , India
Pearl-necked pigeon in Kolkata, India

The pearl- necked pigeon ( Spilopelia chinensis , syn .: Streptopelia chinensis ), also known as the tiger- neck pigeon or spotted pear-necked pigeon because of its conspicuous neck band , is a pigeon species common in South and Southeast Asia with several subspecies . It has established itself as a neozoon in Australia , Hawaii and New Zealand .

description

The pearl neck dove reaches a body length of 27.5 centimeters and weighs about 150 grams. It is about the size of a laughing dove . There is no noticeable sexual dimorphism , but the females are slightly smaller than the males.

Compared to the laughing dove, the wings are shorter and the tail longer. The head and abdomen are light gray-pink, but the forehead is a little lighter and the back of the head is dull reddish red. The back, wings and tail are light brown and spotted. On the neck there is a noticeable and wide dark band with white dots. The wing covers appear flaky because the individual feathers are lined with light brown.

Distribution of the individual subspecies and habitat

A total of seven subspecies are distinguished for the species:

  • The nominate form Spilopelia chinensis colonizes eastern China to Hebei as the northern limit of distribution. The pearl-necked pigeons found in Taiwan are also assigned to this subspecies. The two Chinese provinces Shaanxi and Sichuan also belong to the distribution area . This subspecies was introduced in Hawaii as well as in Australia and New Zealand.
  • S. ch. ceylonensis occurs only in Sri Lanka .
  • The spotted pearl-necked pigeon ( S. ch. Suratensis ) occurs on the Indian subcontinent
  • S. ch. hainana occurs only on the island of Hainan .
  • S. ch. vacillans is in southeastern Yunnan spread
  • S. ch. tigrina occurs in Bangladesh, Burma, Malacca , Laos , Cambodia , Vietnam , Palawan , Kalimantan , Sumatra , Sulawesi , the islands of the Floresee and the Moluccas . Pearl-necked pigeons have been introduced in western New Guinea, and they are believed to be this subspecies.

Pearl-necked pigeons inhabit loosely wooded areas, forest edges and agricultural areas with trees. It has also adapted to urban habitats and occurs in parks and gardens.

behavior

The pearly pigeon eats grains and seeds, other vegetable foods and small insects. It can often be found on the ground looking for food in grassland or cultivated land.

The pearl-necked pigeon is one of the pigeons that show courtship flights. The male swings steeply into the air from an elevated seat, lets out a loud clap of wings as an instrumental sound and then glides back to his seat in a spiral. The courtship repertoire also includes hasty bows by the male to the female, in which the eye-catching neck markings are presented. Mating generally takes place on a branch. The nest is usually built on trees at a height of about three to four meters. The nesting base is only loosely put together. The clutch consists of two eggs. The shell color is pure white. The breeding season is 14 days, the young birds can fledge after 16 days and are completely independent at around four weeks.

Keeping in human care

Pearl neck pigeons were first introduced to Europe in 1843. The London Zoo bred with this species from 1874 onwards. The first German offspring took place with the subspecies S. ch. tigrina in 1883.

The attractively colored pearl-necked pigeons are undemanding and perennial aviary birds that should only be kept in pairs. They can be socialized with other bird species and are often kept in pheasant aviaries. You need a shelter for wintering.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. Rösler, p. 120
  2. Rösler, p. 120 and p. 121
  3. Bruce M. Beehler , Thane K. Pratt: Birds of New Guinea; Distribution, Taxonomy, and Systematics . Princeton University Press, Princeton 2016, ISBN 978-0-691-16424-3 . P. 65
  4. Münst, p 128
  5. Münst, p. 129
  6. Rösler, p. 121

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: Pigeons - The types 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 links

Commons : Pearl-necked pigeon  - album with pictures, videos and audio files