Mustache earth dove

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Mustache earth dove
Bridled Quail-Dove (7624361038) .jpg

Mustache pigeon ( Geotrygon mystacea )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Pigeon birds (Columbiformes)
Family : Pigeons (Columbidae)
Genre : American earth pigeons ( Geotrygon )
Type : Mustache earth dove
Scientific name
Geotrygon mystacea
( Temminck , 1811)

The mustache pigeon ( Geotrygon mystacea ) is a species of pigeon birds. It occurs in two subspecies exclusively in the Caribbean.

Appearance

The gloss earth dove reaches a size of 28 centimeters. It is similar in appearance to the glossy earth dove , with which it is closely related. Compared to a city pigeon, it is more compact and long-legged. There is very little gender dimorphism. The male has more shiny plumage, especially on the rear neck and shoulders.

The front and top of the head are red-brown with a bronze-green sheen. From the base of the beak, a striking white stripe runs below the eye to the neck. The back neck and the upper coat shimmer greenish purple. The coat, the back and the wings are dark green-brown. The wings of the hand are maroon. The eyes are bright red.

Spread and behavior

The nominate form Geotrygon mystacea mystacea occurs in the Lesser Antilles from Barbuda to St. Lucia . The subspecies Geotrygon mystacea sabae only lives on the island of Saba . The whiskered pigeon uses dry forest areas as habitat. It prefers to stay in dense undergrowth. She builds the nest at a very low height in the undergrowth. The clutch consists of two eggs. The incubation period is 14 days. The young birds fledge after 17 to 18 days. The food of the mustache pigeon is fruits and berries.

Keeping in human care

The mustache pigeon was shown at London Zoo as early as 1864. It was first imported to Germany in 1883 and 1889. The first breeding of this species was not successful until 1958. The bird park in Walsrode is one of the few zoological gardens in which the mustache pigeon is kept more frequently . This zoological garden received 14 pigeons in 1976 and was able to breed them very successfully. Towards the end of the 20th century, however, there were only a total of 20 pigeons in European keeping.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Rösler, p. 222
  2. ↑ Rösler, p. 223
  3. ↑ Münst, p. 76

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 .

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