Lattice dove

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Lattice dove
Zenaida auriculata -Piraju, Sao Paulo, Brazil-8.jpg

Lattice dove ( Zenaida auriculata )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Pigeon birds (Columbiformes)
Family : Pigeons (Columbidae)
Genre : Mourning Doves ( Zenaida )
Type : Lattice dove
Scientific name
Zenaida auriculata
( Des Murs , 1847)
Lattice dove
Lattice dove

The lattice dove ( Zenaida auriculata ) is a species of the pigeon birds. It occurs in several subspecies in South America. The population of this pigeon species is very high. The species is not considered endangered.

Appearance

The lattice dove reaches a body length of 26 centimeters. It is therefore smaller than a laughing pigeon and is very similar in appearance to the Carolinian pigeon. She is the smallest of all mourning pigeons . The gender dimorphism is not very pronounced. The females only have slightly dull colors.

The top of the head and the neck are bluish gray. The head, neck and chest are brownish pink. The pink shade is particularly pronounced on the chest. There is a dark, iridescent spot on the upper sides of the neck. There is a narrow dark stripe behind the eye. The elytra are yellow-brown with individual black spots, the wings are dark gray. The beak is small and petite and dark gray in color. The iris is reddish brown. The unfeathered narrow dark circles are gray-white. The feet are reddish.

distribution and habitat

The lattice dove is common in large parts of South America and the Caribbean. In parts of South America - especially in Brazil and Argentina - the ear spot dove is considered an agricultural pest and is hunted in large numbers. But it is numerous in both countries and large flocks in Brazil can contain more than a million pigeons.

The habitat of the lattice pigeon are arid and semi-arid regions from the coastal lowlands to heights of 4,400 meters. It lives in open land that only consists of individual trees or groups of trees, cultivated land and has also opened up human settlement space. It occurs in many areas of its range in parks, gardens and on industrial sites. Their connection to human settlement areas is particularly close in the highland regions of the Andes.

behavior

While the ear spot pigeons that occur in the Andes and on the islands are predominantly resident birds, the other populations experience seasonal and sporadic migrations. These migrations often lead in the east over the lowlands of South America. In the north-east of Brazil, such strong migratory movements are detected every three years, which often lead to very large swarms. The reasons for these migrations are not well understood, but are very likely related to the availability of food resources.

The latticed pigeon is one of the typical ground-dwelling pigeons. Wherever she is not persecuted, she becomes very trusting towards people. Their food spectrum consists of seeds, small fruits, insects and snails. The breeding time depends on the distribution area. In Colombia the ear spot dove breeds in the period March to September, in Trinidad in the period December to January and again in the period March to September. In Brazil, nests are found all year round, in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia from August to November and April to June.

The nest is a small platform made of twigs, the nesting hollow of which is laid out with small roots and grass. It is usually planted in the undergrowth or trees. The clutch consists of one or two eggs. The breeding season lasts about 14 days and the young birds fledge after 12 to 15 days. As with many other species of weeping pigeons , the earmarked pigeons raise a second brood when the first has fledged.

Keeping in human care

Earthling pigeons were shown for the first time at London Zoo. The first breeding took place there in 1897. Today, however, it is only rarely imported and does not play a particularly important role in European wild pigeon keeping.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Rösler, p. 187
  2. ↑ a b c Münst, p. 83
  3. ↑ a b Gibbs, p. 325
  4. ↑ a b Gibbs, p. 324

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 .

Web links

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