Picazuro pigeon
| Picazuro pigeon | ||||||||||
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Picazuro pigeon ( Patagioenas picazuro ) |
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| Patagioenas picazuro | ||||||||||
| ( Temminck , 1813) |
The Picazuro Pigeon ( Patagioenas picazuro ), also spelled Pikazuro Pigeon , is a species of pigeon birds. It occurs exclusively in South America. In older literature it is occasionally assigned to the genus of field pigeons ( Columbina ). The species is not considered endangered in its population. It is common in parts of its range and is occasionally even classified as an agricultural pest.
Appearance
The Picazuro pigeon reaches a body length of 37.5 centimeters. Its body size corresponds to that of a wood pigeon. In relation to body size, the wings are long and the tail short. There is no gender dimorphism.
The head and upper chest of the Picazuro pigeon are burgundy. The top of the body also has this color. The feathers are very thinly lined here, so that an overall scale-like pattern is created. The plumage brightens on the lower chest and belly. In the nape of the neck and on the sides of the neck, the feathers are gray with black and white seams and form a non-closed neck band set off from the rest of the plumage. The elytra are gray. Some of the feathers have very wide white seams. The upper and lower tail-coverts are blue-gray. The tail feathers are gray and have a black transverse band at the end. The beak is greyish. The iris is orange-red.
The flight is quick and straightforward.
Distribution area and habitat
The range of the Picazuro pigeon is very large and includes central Brazil, eastern Bolivia, parts of Paraguay and Argentina. It inhabits forests as well as open, tree-lined terrain. The species is adaptable in its habitat requirements. It inhabits both semi-humid and semi-arid regions. In Bolivia, Paraguay and western Brazil it occurs in deciduous forests and gallery forests, otherwise in open grasslands. In the south-east of Brazil and in the south of Argentina it occurs to the edge of human settlement and has meanwhile also developed into urban habitats in places. The range has expanded particularly in Brazil, where this species benefits from the conversion of forests into agricultural land. In some regions it is considered an agricultural pest.
Way of life
Outside the breeding season, larger flocks of Picazuro pigeons are occasionally observed. During the breeding season they live mostly in pairs. It is mainly considered to be a resident bird if there are also local migrations if there are insufficient food resources in individual areas.
The Picazuro pigeon is a feeding opportunist and eats a wide range of seeds, buds, saplings, young leaves and invertebrates. Picazuro pigeons have already been shot and only shamrocks were found in their heads. The pigeon species has also been observed on the carcasses of dead sheep. Unlike most other pigeon species, it looks for and finds its food both on the ground and in trees. In Brazil and Argentina, it has proven to be a species that, after clearing the forests in which it was originally found, very quickly switched to using agricultural land. In Bolivia, on the other hand, it is still predominantly a type of gallery forest that comes to the ground much less often to look for food.
The breeding time varies depending on the distribution area. Breeding can occur all year round in suitable regions. In large parts of Brazil, however, the peak of the breeding season falls between November and December. The male's courtship repertoire includes bows to the female. Movement is restricted to the head and neck alone. The body is not bent, the tail is not raised. After about every third bow, the wings are lowered. The nest is built in a tree or large shrub and is a loose platform made of branches. The clutch consists of only one egg.
Keeping in human care
The Picazuro pigeon was successfully bred at London Zoo as early as the mid-19th century. However, they are considered to be shy aviary dwellers who, because of their size, require a very spacious aviary. It also needs a shelter in which it can be overwintered frost-free.
supporting documents
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
- Patagioenas picazuro inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2013.