West Visaya Pigeon
| West Visaya Pigeon | ||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Phapitreron maculipectus | ||||||||||
| Bourns & Worcester , 1894 |
The western visaya pigeon ( Phapitreron maculipectus ) is a species of pigeon birds. It occurs exclusively on two Philippine islands. For a long time it was considered a subspecies of the amethyst pigeon , due to the clear differences to this species it has meanwhile been granted species status.
The West Visaya pigeon is classified by the IUCN as a potentially threatened ( near threatened ) species.
Appearance
The western visaya pigeon reaches a body length of 26 to 27 centimeters. The wing length is 14 centimeters, the beak is 2.3 to 2.6 centimeters long. It is therefore somewhat larger than the Philippines black-line pigeon, which also belongs to the brown fruit pigeons, and is somewhat more compact compared to this. Compared to the amethyst dove, it has a longer beak.
The West Visaya pigeon has predominantly dark brown plumage and, unlike the amethyst pigeon, a brown crown. Starting from the base of the beak, a narrow gray color stripe runs below the eye. The plumage has an intense purple iridescent plumage on the neck. The chin is brownish white, the throat is reddish light brown. The chest and belly are ash gray, the feather bases are each dark gray, so that the pigeon looks scaled or spotted on the chest and belly. The under tail-coverts are pale fawn brown. The beak is black, the feet and legs are dark pink.
distribution and habitat
The Western Visayan pigeon occurs on Negros , the largest of the Visayas Islands belonging to the Philippines, and on Panay Island , northwest of Negros , which is also one of the Visaya Islands. It inhabits forests of the foothills and mountains on both islands. It is considered a resident bird and is a comparatively rare species on both islands. Forests are still being felled on both islands, which endangers their existence.
Way of life
The way of life of the West Visaya pigeon has so far been little researched. She eats seeds and fruits. So far nothing is known about their breeding biology.
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