Red pigeon
| Red pigeon | ||||||||||
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Red pigeon ( Streptopelia vinacea ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Streptopelia vinacea | ||||||||||
| ( Gmelin , 1857) |
The red pigeon ( Streptopelia vinacea ), also called wine-red turtledove , is an African species of pigeon birds . It was first scientifically described in 1857 by Johann Friedrich Gmelin . Their distribution area runs in a wide belt across sub-Saharan Africa. The species, for which six subspecies are distinguished, is considered common and is classified as not endangered by the IUCN .
The red pigeon was shown for the first time at London Zoo in 1858 and bred several times. Until the Second World War it was often imported as an ornamental bird. Today, however, it no longer plays a role in the keeping of ornamental birds.
Appearance
The red pigeon reaches a body length of 25 centimeters. It is significantly smaller than a laughing dove . It is similar to the Cape Turtle Dove of the same size , but its plumage is a bit browner overall. There is no conspicuous gender dimorphism; however, the females are a little more brownish than the males.
Red doves have a flat front head with a straight, dark beak. A narrow black stripe runs from the beak to the eye. The head, neck and chest are wine pink. The plumage brightens towards the abdomen and is cream-colored on the lower abdomen. The coat and back are light yellowish brown. The outer wing covers, on the other hand, are rather bluish gray. A wide black band runs along the back of the neck. The tail feathers are gray-brown, the two outer feathers are black at their base and lighten to light gray towards the end. The iris is dark brown. The feet are reddish.
Distribution area and habitat
The red pigeon is found in the Gambia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cameroon, Uganda and the northwest of Ethiopia. She is an inhabitant of arid savannahs and thorn bush areas.
behavior
Red pigeons feed almost exclusively on seeds. Millet plays a big role in their diet. It also eats small invertebrates. They mostly live in pairs, but can come together to form larger groups in places with plenty of food.
The breeding season depends on the respective distribution area and usually falls during the dry season. The clutch consists of two white-shelled eggs.
supporting documents
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 .
Web link
- Streptopelia vinacea inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2013.