Western bronze-naped pigeon

Western bronze-naped pigeon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Columbiformes
Family:Columbidae
Genus:Columba
Species: C. iriditorques
Binomial name
Columba iriditorques
Cassin, 1856

The western bronze-naped pigeon (Columba iriditorques) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae, part of the subgenus Turturoena. A medium sized bird, it has a pale, broad terminal tail band which is noticeable on landing. It is found in most countries of Africa. The IUCN Red List classifies it as a species of least concern.

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1856 by the American ornithologist John Cassin. It is occasionally considered conspecific (belonging to the same species) with the eastern bronze-naped pigeon (Columba delegorguei) and the island bronze-naped pigeon (Columba malherbii), and the three species are sometimes placed in the subgenus Turturoena.[2]

Description

A medium sized bird, the western bronze-naped pigeon measures about 25 centimetres (9.8 in) in length.[2] It has a pale, broad terminal tail band which is noticeable on landing.[3] The adult male weighs about 130 grams (4.6 oz),[2] and has dark bluish grey head, and dark vinous belly and breast.[3] The adult female weighs about 122 grams (4.3 oz),[2] and has cinnamon-reddish brown crown, and greyish chestnut underparts.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The range includes many countries in Africa including Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.[1]

Status and conservation

Since 1988, the western bronze-naped pigeon has been rated as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List. This is because it has a large range, and because its population is stable and thought not to have declined by 30% over ten years or three generations. Although the population size has not been measured, it is thought to be more than the threshold required to warrant it a vulnerable rating. There is no evidence of any population decline of the species, or substantial threat to it.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 BirdLife International (2012). "Columba iriditorques". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Baptista, L.F.; Trail, P.W.; Horblit, H.M.; Boesman, P. (2016). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David A; de Juana, Eduardo, eds. "Western Bronze-naped Pigeon (Columba iriditorques)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions. Archived from the original on 2017-07-12. Retrieved 2017-09-15. (Subscription required (help)).
  3. 1 2 3 Stevenson, Terry; Fanshawe, John (2004). Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi. A&C Black. p. 166. ISBN 9780713673470.
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