Speckled wood pigeon

Last updated

Speckled wood pigeon
Speckled Wood Pigeon Aritar Pangolakha WLS Sikkim India 08.01.2014.jpg
Speckled Wood Pigeon from Pangolakha WLS in East Sikkim, India.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columba
Species:
C. hodgsonii
Binomial name
Columba hodgsonii
Vigors, 1832

The speckled wood pigeon (Columba hodgsonii), also known as Hodgson's pigeon or Jungle pigeon, is a medium-sized pigeon of the bird family Columbidae and genus Columba. It is a monotypic species. It measures 38-40 cm (14.96-15.75 in) in length, with males featuring a pale gray head and females having a grayish-brown head. Males have a distinctive pinkish-silver breast speckled with black spots and a maroon belly, while females exhibit less vibrant coloration. Both sexes have blackish-brown tails and primaries, iris color differs slightly. The species is distributed across the Himalayas extending from Kashmir to western and central China, as well as parts of India, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Afghanistan. [2] [3] Inhabiting evergreen and semi-evergreen hill forests at elevations of 1,800-4,000 meters (5,905-13,123 ft), descend in winter based on food availability. Diet consists mainly of acrons, berries, and fruits, typically foraging in small flocks. Breeding occurs from May to August, with nests situated 3-8 meters (10-26 ft) above ground.

Contents

Taxonomy

The speckled wood pigeon was formally described by the Irish zoologist and politician Nicholas Aylward Vigors in 1832, who was the co-founder of the Zoological Society of London in 1826. Another person associated with this species is naturalist and ethnologist Brian Houghton Hodgson, it is believed that he sent the description of this species to Zoological Society prior to 1832 but was not published, he is acknowledged in the scientific name of the species. [4]

Speckled wood pigeon is a monotypic species. It is considered to be an Asiatic representative of Columba arquatrix , [5] together with other olive pigeons including Columba sjostedti, Columba thomensis, and Columba pollenii as the five members of a superspecies. [6]

Description

Speckled wood pigeon illustration in Indian Pigeons and Doves (1913) ColumbaHodgsonii.jpg
Speckled wood pigeon illustration in Indian Pigeons and Doves (1913)

General Characteristics: Size of the Speckled wood pigeon is usually 38-40 cm (14.96-15.75 in) for adults. [5] [8] Adult male has a pale gray head, [5] while female's head is grayish-brown, [8] juvenile resembles the female but browner and paler than female. [5] [9] Adult male has a pinkish-silver breast and side of neck area, speckled with black spots, each feather on the breast area has a silver base, dark central streak, and the tip is silvery-pink. Hindneck feathers have black or purplish-black bases with silver tips, creating a speckled appearance. [5] Female neck and breast color in less vibrant tones compared to male. [8]

Plumage: Mantle and wing-coverts of male is dark reddish-purple/burgundy/maroon on the upper part, turning into bluish-gray on the outer wing-coverts. Upper mantle has silver flecks, and white spots on inner and median wing-coverts. [5] [8] [10] In female, scapulars and mantle lack of maroon coloration and replaced with slaty dark brown. Speckles on the juvenile is indistinct. [9]

Tail and primaries black/blackish-brown in both male and female, underwing and undertail is blackish. [5] [8] [10]

Belly/abdomen is maroon/dark-reddish purple with pinkish-white streaks in male, each feather with white fringes and is purplish. [5] [8] Females have dark brownish gray underparts without maroon coloration. [9]

Legs are brownish yellow-greenish in adults. Bright yellow claws. [5]

Beak transitions from blueish-purple at the base to black at the tips. [5]

Iris white-gray in males, gray-brown tinges in female as well, juvenile paler iris colors compared to adults. [5]

Distribution and Habitat

Speckled Wood-Pigeon from Bhutan. Speckled Wood-Pigeon - Bhutan S4E0663.jpg
Speckled Wood-Pigeon from Bhutan.

Distribution: Speckled wood pigeon is distributed across the Himalayas, from Kashmir to western and central China (Including southern Gansu, western Sichuan, and western Yunnan), the presence of this species is also found in India, Myanmar, northern and western Thailand, northern and western Laos, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Afghanistan. [5] [8] [9] [10]

Habitat: Speckled wood pigeons inhabit tall evergreen and semi-evergreen hill forests, particularly those dominated by oak and Rhododendron, at altitudes ranging from 1,800-4,000 meters (5,905-13,123 ft), though it may descend to as low as 1,350 meters (4,429 ft) in winter depending on food availability. Sometimes observed in open treeless valley bottoms. [5] [8] [9]

Diet

Fruits of Prinsepia utilis Prinsepia utilis.jpg
Fruits of Prinsepia utilis

Primarily frugivorous and granivorous, foraging primarily on acorns, berries, drupes, and fruits like those from Prinsepia utilis . They are also known to feed on herbs and cereals. Often gathering on the ground to consume leftover grains in fields after harvest. Have been observed feeding on the acorns of brown oak (Quercus semecarpifollia) and fig ( Ficus ). Typically feed in pairs, small groups, or flocks of 6-10 individuals. [5] [8]

Breeding

Speckled wood pigeons typically breed from May to June, with some extending into August, especially at altitudes between 1,800 and 3,300 meters (5,905-10,827 ft). The earlier part of the breeding season tend to be more productive. Their nests are platforms made of interlaced twigs, placed in oak trees or nullahs (narrow valleys or dry streams) commonly found in mountainous regions of India and Pakistan. Nests typically situated 3-8 meters (10-26 ft) above the ground. The clutch usually consists of a single bright white egg. Do not perform elaborate courtship displays. Incubation period unknown. [5] [8] [11]

Movements

Mostly resident, but undertake local and altitudinal movements in response to food availability. In some cases, birds observed in northern Thailand during the winter may be migrants from more northern regions. [5] [8]

Vocalizations

Generally quiet and rarely vocalize, therefore limited information on vocalization. When they do call, their voice is characterized by a deep, throaty sound, described as "whock-whroo..whrooo". Call begins with a surprising first note, followed by a series of rolling sounds, with the third note being longer than the first. Often used as an alarm/warning signal. [8] [9] [10]

Status and Conservation

Speckled wood pigeon is not considered globally threatened and is classified as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with most recent assessment conducted in 2016. It is generally regarded as an rare and uncommon species, due to much of its range is in remote and inaccessible areas. Many available data are often anecdotal. [8] [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-breasted prinia</span> Species of bird

The grey-breasted prinia or Franklin's prinia is a wren-warbler belonging to the family of small passerine birds found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. This prinia is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka and southeast Asia. Like other prinias, it often holds the tail upright but it is easily told by a smoky grey band across the breast which contrasts with a white throat. The beak is all black while the legs are pink. The tail is graduated as in other prinias and the grey feathers are tipped in white. In the breeding plumage the upperparts are grey while non-breeding birds are pale above with rufous wings and a weak supercilium. It is found in scrub, forest clearings and other open but well vegetated habitats. It can be confused with the rufescent prinia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trocaz pigeon</span> Species of bird

The trocaz pigeon, Madeira laurel pigeon or long-toed pigeon is a pigeon which is endemic to the island of Madeira, Portugal. It is a mainly grey bird with a pinkish breast; its silvery neck patch and lack of white wing markings distinguish it from its close relative and probable ancestor, the common wood pigeon. Its call is a characteristic six-note cooing, weaker and lower-pitched than that of the wood pigeon. Despite its bulky, long-tailed appearance, this pigeon has a fast, direct flight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolle's pigeon</span> Species of bird

Bolle's pigeon, Bolle's laurel pigeon or dark-tailed laurel pigeon is a species of the genus Columba of family Columbidae, doves and pigeons, endemic to the Canary Islands, Spain. This bird is named after the German naturalist Carl Bolle, who was the first to distinguish it from the laurel pigeon. This wood pigeon is endemic to the laurel forest habitat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red collared dove</span> Species of bird

The red collared dove, also known as the red turtle dove, is a small pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in the tropics of Asia. The male has a blue-grey head and a red-brown body. The female is much plainer, with pale brown plumage similar to that of the larger Eurasian collared dove.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallace's fruit dove</span> Species of pigeon endemic to Indonesia

Wallace's fruit dove is a species of a bird in the pigeon family Columbidae. The name commemorates the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. It is a rather large, long-tailed fruit dove with a length of 24–28 cm (9.4–11.0 in) and has been described as "one of the most beautiful" fruit doves. The forehead and crown are dull crimson, the lower face and throat are white, and the rest of the head, breast, neck, and upper back are pale bluish-grey. The wings and lower back are green and the belly is orange, separated from the chest by a white band. Both sexes look similar, but females have less extensive red on the head and a greenish tinge to their grey parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African olive pigeon</span> Species of bird

The African olive pigeon or Rameron pigeon is a pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in much of eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape. Populations also are found in western Angola, southwestern Saudi Arabia and northern Yemen. It is locally common, although sizeable gaps in its distribution occur due to its habitat requirements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pale-capped pigeon</span> Species of bird

The pale-capped pigeon, also known as the purple wood pigeon, is a species of large pigeon that is found patchily distributed in parts of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It has a slow flight and spends a lot of time sitting still in the foliage of large fruiting trees, often in riverine forest on the plains. It is mainly brown above and chestnut below with the a sheen of green or amethyst. Males have a whitish grey cap while females have a brownish grey cap and less gloss on the feathers. They are frugivores, foraging in small groups in the canopy of trees but sometimes descending to the ground for seeds and fallen fruit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink-browed rosefinch</span> Species of bird

The pink-browed rosefinch is a finch in the family Fringillidae. Nicholas Aylward Vigors first described the species in 1831. It is migratory and ranges across the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, mainly in the Himalayas. It is found in Bhutan, Tibet, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Its natural habitats are boreal forests, shrub-lands, grasslands, and dry forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous-throated partridge</span> Species of bird

The rufous-throated partridge is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is found in montane forests in India and Southeast Asia. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a least-concern species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Island bronze-naped pigeon</span> Species of bird

The island bronze-naped pigeon, also known as the São Tomé bronze-naped pigeon or São Tomé pigeon, is a species of bird in the pigeon family, Columbidae. It is endemic to the Gulf of Guinea, where it is found on the islands of São Tomé, Príncipe, and Annobón. It inhabits rainforest, secondary forests, and plantations at elevations of up to 1,668 m (5,472 ft), although it is more common at lower elevations. A small, darkish pigeon, it has a total length of 28 cm (11 in). Adult males have slate-grey heads and upper backs, blackish-grey wings, backs, and tails, buffy-white throats, ashy-grey breasts and bellies, and rufous vents. The back of the neck and upper back are glossy pink or green, while the wings have a green tinge to them. Females are similar, but have browner undersides, duller and less glossy upperparts, and more rusty-orange outer tail feathers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-bellied imperial pigeon</span> Species of bird from Indonesia

The white-bellied imperial pigeon is a species of bird in the pigeon family Columbidae. First described by the French ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1854, it is endemic to Indonesia, where it is found on Sulawesi, Buton, Taliabu, Togian, and Peleng. It inhabits primary forest, dense secondary forest, and isolated areas of hill forest. A large pigeon with a long tail, it measures 42.5–51.5 cm (16.7–20.3 in) long and weighs 510 g (18 oz) on average. Males are mainly green, with pale-grey heads and bellies, chestnut vents, and a pale grey tail band, along with a red orbital ring. Females are nearly identical, but have darker grey areas in their plumage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papuan mountain pigeon</span> Species of bird native to New Guinea and eastern Indonesia

The Papuan mountain pigeon is a species of bird in the pigeon family, Columbidae. It is found in the Bacan Islands, New Guinea, the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, and the Bismarck Archipelago, where it inhabits primary forest, montane forest, and lowlands. It is a medium-sized species of pigeon, being 33–36 cm (13–14 in) long and weighing 259 g (9.1 oz) on average. Adult males have slate-grey upperparts, chestnut-maroon throats and bellies, whitish breasts, and a pale grey terminal tail band. The lores and orbital region are bright red. Females are similar, but have grayish breasts and grey edges to the throat feathers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barred cuckoo-dove</span> Species of bird

The barred cuckoo-dove is a bird species in the family Columbidae. It is native to South and Southeast Asia, and listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pin-tailed green pigeon</span> Species of bird

The pin-tailed green pigeon or pin-tailed pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae native to Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Speckle-breasted antpitta</span> Species of bird

The speckle-breasted antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Speckled antshrike</span> Species of bird

The speckled antshrike or spiny-faced antshrike is a Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Colombia and Panama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-headed trogon</span> Species of bird

The red-headed trogon is a species of bird in the family Trogonidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-breasted warbling antbird</span> Species of bird

The yellow-breasted warbling antbird or yellow-breasted antwarbler, is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.

The olive pigeons are four allopatric species of pigeon, named for their association with olive (Olea) species. They have a maroon tone to the speckled plumage, and inhabit cool, montane forests of Africa and its associated islands. Together with the speckled wood pigeon, they are seen as members of a superspecies, which has affinities with the white-naped pigeon.

Wood pigeon, wood-pigeon or woodpigeon may refer to:

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Columba hodgsonii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22690159A93262909. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22690159A93262909.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Gibbs, David; Barnes, Eustace; Cox, John (2001). Pigeons and doves: a guide to the pigeons and doves of the world. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN   978-0-300-07886-2.
  3. Liu, Hong-Yi; Sun, Cheng-He; Zhu, Ying; Zhang, Qing-Zheng (2020-05-01). "Complete mitogenomic and phylogenetic characteristics of the speckled wood-pigeon (Columba hodgsonii)". Molecular Biology Reports. 47 (5): 3567–3576. doi:10.1007/s11033-020-05448-w. ISSN   1573-4978.
  4. Waterhouse, David (2004-10-28). "A Pioneer of Himalayan Ornithology". The Origins of Himalayan Studies (1 ed.). Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780203480359. ISBN   978-1-134-38364-1.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Hoyo, Josep del; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Cabot, José, eds. (1997). Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 4. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN   978-84-87334-10-8.
  6. Goodwin, Derek; Robert, Gillmor (1970). Pigeons and doves of the world. Publication / British Museum (Natural History) (2nd ed.). London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). ISBN   978-0-565-00663-1.
  7. Baker, E.C. Stuart (1913). Indian Pigeons and Doves. London: Witherby & Co.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Oiseaux.net. "Pigeon de Hodgson - Columba hodgsonii - Speckled Wood Pigeon". www.oiseaux.net (in French). Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Robson, Craig; Allen, Richard (2005). Birds of Southeast Asia: Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN   978-0-691-12435-3.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Grimmett, Richard; Inskipp, Carol; Inskipp, Tim (2012). Birds of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Princeton field guides (2nd ed.). Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN   978-0-691-15349-0.
  11. Ali, Sálim; Ripley, Sidney Dillon; Roberts, T. J. (2001). Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan: together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Oxford India paperbacks. Vol. 7 (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Oxford university press. ISBN   978-0-19-565934-4.
  12. IUCN (2016-10-01). Columba hodgsonii: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22690159A93262909 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t22690159a93262909.en.