Solomon Islands pigeon

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Solomon Islands pigeon
Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Pigeon birds (Columbiformes)
Family : Pigeons (Columbidae)
Genre : Long-tailed pigeons ( Reinwardtoena )
Type : Solomon Islands pigeon
Scientific name
Reinwardtoena crassirostris
( Gould , 1856)

The Solomon-Cattle Pigeon ( Reinwardtoena crassirostris ) is a species of the pigeon birds. It occurs exclusively on the Solomon Islands .

Appearance

The Solomon pigeon reaches a body length of about 40 centimeters. It differs from the two other species of the long-tailed pigeon, the red-brown and the black Reinwardt pigeon , above all in its greatly elongated head and neck feathers. This head resembles that of the Australian pigeon .

While the Solomon pigeon is otherwise similar in size and shape to the other long-tailed pigeons, its beak is very different from most pigeon species. The beak is very strong and the upper beak is bent down like a hook at the tip. The head is light gray and the back neck is blue gray. The throat is light and the belly is dark blue. The iris is yellow inside and has a red outer ring. The feet are reddish. Although the Solomon Islands pigeon is a very conspicuous species of pigeon, which is unmistakable in its appearance, flying Solomon pigeons can be confused with the pale mountain pigeon . The distribution areas of both species overlap.

Spread and behavior

The Solomon pigeon is found exclusively on the Solomon Islands . It colonizes Bougainville , Choiseul , Isabel, Kolombangara , New Georgia , Vangunu , Nggatokae , Rendova , Guadalcanal , Malaita , Makira , the Olu-Malau Islands and Ugi . On these islands, the Solomon Islands pigeon is mainly found in the valleys in the interior of the island. It colonizes both primary and secondary evergreen forests and forest edges. Their height distribution extends from the lowlands to an altitude of 1100 meters.

The Solomon Islands pigeon lives mostly singly or in pairs. She eats fruits on the treetops. Almost nothing is known about reproductive biology.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. Rösler, p. 145
  2. Gibbs, p. 280

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 .
  • 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 .

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