Santa Cruz dove

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Santa Cruz dove
Systematics
Sub-stem : Vertebrates (vertebrata)
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Pigeon birds (Columbiformes)
Family : Pigeons (Columbidae)
Genre : Indo-Pacific earth pigeons ( Alopecoenas )
Type : Santa Cruz dove
Scientific name
Alopecoenas sanctaecrucis
( Mayr , 1935)

The Santa Cruz dove ( Alopecoenas sanctaecrucis , Syn . : Gallicolumba sanctaecrucis ) is a species of pigeon birds. It occurs exclusively in Southeast Asia. The IUCN classifies this forest-dwelling species as endangered ( vulnerable ) because the population is very small and the species has only been observed in two areas in recent years. It is one of the species whose population is threatened by introduced predators.

Appearance

The Santa Cruz earth dove reaches a body length of 23 centimeters. It is thus slightly smaller than a laughing pigeon, but has the body shape that is characteristic of other earth pigeons.

The head and neck of the Santa Cruz Earth Dove are light gray. The top of the head is dull brown. It has a striking cream-colored breast shield that is bordered by a white border. The rear neck, the coat and the back are olive-brown and have individual purple-colored iridescent spots. The tail feathers are purple-brown. The underbust and the belly are dark brown-red. The beak is dark gray, the iris is brown. The feet are red.

distribution

The Santa Cruz pigeon is only found on three islands in the southwestern Pacific. Until a few years ago, she settled on the islands of Tinakula , Utupua and Espiritu Santo . The first two islands mentioned belong to the so-called Santa Cruz Islands . It may still occur on Tinakula, an eight square kilometer volcanic island that is only visited seasonally by humans. However, this island has not been visited by ornithologists in recent years . It is now probably extinct on Utupua. This island is now largely deforested. There are very likely some of these pigeons on Espiritu Santo. Espiritu Santo still has a contiguous forest and in 2000 the calls characteristic of this species were heard.

behavior

The Santa Cruz pigeon is a shy pigeon that lives mostly solitary or in pairs. She looks for food on the ground. Their food spectrum consists of seeds, berries and saplings. It also takes in invertebrates to a small extent. If it is disturbed, it usually does not fly, but constantly seeks protection. The tail is carried high. Nothing is known about the reproductive biology of this species.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ BirdLife Factsheet , accessed July 5, 2009
  2. ↑ Gibbs, p. 410
  3. ↑ Rösler, p. 238
  4. ↑ BirdLife Factsheet , accessed July 5, 2009

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

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