Tawitawi pigeon

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Tawitawi pigeon
Gallicolumba menagei.svg

Tawitawi pigeon ( Gallicolumba menagei )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Pigeon birds (Columbiformes)
Family : Pigeons (Columbidae)
Genre : Staggered Doves ( Gallicolumba )
Type : Tawitawi pigeon
Scientific name
Gallicolumba menagei
( Bourns & Worcester , 1894)

The Tawitawi pigeon ( Gallicolumba menagei ), also known as the Tawitawidolchstichtaube , is an extremely rare or already extinct pigeon from the genus of the dagger-sting pigeon ( Gallicolumba ). She's on the Philippine island of Tawi-Tawi endemic . The art epithet honors Louis Menage, a wealthy Minneapolis businessman who financed Frank Swift Bourns and Dean Conant Worcester's expedition between 1890 and 1892 to discover the Tawitawite pigeon.

features

The Tawitawi pigeon reaches a size of 30 centimeters. The dark gray color of the forehead turns into a shimmering green on the nape of the neck and on the upper coat. The rest of the top is chestnut colored with a deep red-purple sheen. A green band that runs around the underbust creates a sharp contrast between the white neck and the sides of the chest. The wings are solid chestnut brown. The belly is ash gray. The rump and tail-coverts are creamy white. There is a bright orange spot on the white chest. The tail is short.

Way of life

Almost nothing is known about their way of life. Similar to the other dagger-sting pigeons, it is probably a ground-dweller and only flies short distances.

Existence and endangerment

The Tawitawi pigeon is known only from two type specimens that were collected on the island of Tawi-Tawi in 1891. BirdLife International classifies this species in the critically endangered category because, based on statements made by the locals of Tawi-Tawi, Siasi, Tandubatu, Dundangan, Baliungan and Simunal in 1995, there are still hopes that this bird will still be there could exist. These reports state that this pigeon species was spotted quite frequently before the 1970s, but the populations have declined so dramatically that observations of the tawitawite pigeon are very rare. Although Tandubatu, Dundangan, Baliungan are still well forested, a further existence of the Tawitawite pigeon on these three islands is rather unlikely, as they only have a total area of ​​17 km². In 1994 the remaining primary forest on Tawi-Tawi was cleared and the remaining forest areas were degraded by logging. In 1996 there were even plans to replace the entire forest on Tawi-Tawi with oil palm plantations . However, in 2006 there were reports that some forest remnants were still preserved. The logging in the remains of the forest, which is now limited to the rugged mountain regions, was followed by uncontrolled settlement and agricultural use. Small-scale clearings are still being carried out on Tandubatu, Dundangan and Baliungan. During martial law in the 1970s, hunting the pigeons may have caused a significant decrease in the population. In addition, the ongoing civil war between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has prevented searches for this pigeon in recent years.

literature

  • Kennedy, RS, Gonzales PC, Dickinson EC, Miranda, Jr, HC, Fisher TH (2000) A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines , Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Del Hoyo, J., Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (Editors) (1997). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos . Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-22-9
  • Bournes, FS & Worcester, DC (1894): Preliminary notes on the birds and mammals collected by the Menage Scientific Expedition to the Philippine Islands . ( Online )

Web links

Commons : Tawitawitaube ( Gallicolumba menagei )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files