American earth pigeons
| American earth pigeons | ||||||||||
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Red earth dove ( Geotrygon montana ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Geotrygon | ||||||||||
| Gutter , 1847 |
The American earth pigeons ( Geotrygon ), also called quail doves , are a genus of pigeon birds . They belong to the large group of ground-dwelling wild pigeons and are well adapted to the life on the ground thanks to their long legs. Their distribution area extends from Central America to South America. The Cuban pigeon , which also inhabits the American continent, is closely related to this genus . There is also a great similarity with the genus of the Indo-Pacific earth pigeons , which occurs in the Southeast Asian region. This similarity may not be based on a closer kinship relationship, but probably came about through a convergent development.
Appearance
American earth pigeons are long-legged pigeons with a body shape reminiscent of quail. They are therefore also called quail pigeons. They reach a height between 23 and 33 centimeters. The sapphire dove with a body length of 23 centimeters is one of the smallest species . The largest species is the Peruvian quail pigeon , which can reach a height of 33 centimeters. The legs are featherless up to the upper joint. The gender dimorphism is only slightly pronounced.
behavior
American earth pigeons are more tied to a life on the ground than is the case with the American pigeons . However, they stand up to rest and sleep. The diet consists of seeds, fruits and berries. Animal food in the form of invertebrates makes up a higher proportion in this genus than in other species.
The nests are on the ground or low in the bushes. The clutch consists of one or two eggs. The nestlings leave the nest very early.
species
The genus of American earth pigeons usually includes 15 species. The Tuxtla quail pigeon is classified by the IUCN as endangered and the Gundlach pigeon as vulnerable :
- Purple-backed quail pigeon ( Geotrygon lawrenci )
- Costa Rican quail pigeon ( Geotrygon costaricensis )
- Goldman quail pigeon ( Geotrygon goldmani )
- Tuxtla quail pigeon , ( Geotrygon carrikeri )
- Sapphire Taube ( Geotrygon saphirina )
- Gundlachtaube ( Geotrygon caniceps )
- Jamaican earth dove ( Geotrygon versicolor )
- White-faced quail pigeon ( Geotrygon linearis )
- Chiriqui quail pigeon ( Geotrygon chiriquensis )
- Veragua quail pigeon ( Geotrygon veraguensis )
- Peruvian quail pigeon ( Geotrygon frenata )
- Gloss earth dove ( Geotrygon chrysia )
- Mustache pigeon ( Geotrygon mystacea )
- Violet earth dove ( Geotrygon violacea )
- Red earth dove ( Geotrygon montana )
One of the extinct species is the Puerto Rican pigeon ( Geotrygon larva ).
Individual evidence
literature
- Gerhard Rösler: The wild pigeons of the earth - free life, keeping and breeding , Verlag M. & H. Schaper, Alfeld-Hannover 1996, ISBN 3-7944-0184-0 .
