Red-billed pigeon

Red-billed pigeon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Columbiformes
Family:Columbidae
Genus:Patagioenas
Species: P. flavirostris
Binomial name
Patagioenas flavirostris
(Wagler, 1831)
Synonyms

Columba flavirostris Wagler, 1831

The red-billed pigeon (Patagioenas flavirostris)[2] is a relatively large, girthy pigeon which breeds from southern Texas, United States, and northwestern Mexico south to Costa Rica. It belongs to a clade of Patagioenas which generally lack iridescent display plumage, except some vestiges in the pale-vented pigeon.

It is found in open country with some trees, large clearings and cultivation in lowlands and middle altitudes to 2,100 m (6,900 ft). It builds a rudimentary platform nest out of twigs in a tree about 4–25 m (13–82 ft) above the ground, usually on a horizontal branch or on a palm crown, and lays one white egg.

The red-billed pigeon is mid or large-sized pigeon, at 30–37 cm (12–15 in) in length and a weight of 230–425 g (8.1–15.0 oz).[3] It is mainly wine-purple, becoming browner on the back, and with a grey tail, lower belly and flight feathers. The bill is white with a red base, and the legs and eyes are red. Juvenile birds are duller than adults and the plumage is brown-tinged.

It is normally seen alone or in pairs and rarely forms flocks. It feeds on the ground, seeking acorns, berries and buds.

It is often thought to be brown. However, it is actually a dark shade of maroon.

The red-billed pigeon has a loud kuk c'c'coooo call that is given in rows; the initial short kuk is characteristic for this group of Patagioenas.[4]

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Patagioenas flavirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Johnson, Kevin P.; de Kort, Selvino; Dinwoodey, Karen; Mateman, A.C.; ten Cate, Carel; Lessells, C.M.; Clayton, Dale H. (2001). "A molecular phylogeny of the dove genera Streptopelia and Columba" (PDF). Auk. 118 (4): 874–887. doi:10.2307/4089839.
  3. ↑ Dunning Jr., John B., ed. (1992). CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses. CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-4258-5.
  4. ↑ Mahler, Bettina; Tubaro, Pablo L. (2001). "Relationship between song characters and morphology in New World pigeons". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 74 (4): 533–539. doi:10.1006/bijl.2001.0596.
  • Stiles, F. Gary; Skutch, Alexander F. (1989). A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Comstock Publishing Associates. ISBN 0-8014-9600-4.
  • "Red-billed pigeon media". Internet Bird Collection.
  • Red-billed pigeon photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
  • Red-billed pigeon species account at NeotropicalBirds (Cornell University)
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