Bare-eyed pigeon

Bare-eyed pigeon
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Patagioenas
Species:
P. corensis
Binomial name
Patagioenas corensis
(Jacquin, 1784)
Synonyms

Columba corensis Jacquin, 1784

The bare-eyed pigeon (Patagioenas corensis) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Colombia, Venezuela, and the Netherlands Antilles.[2]

Taxonomy and systematics

At least one author has asserted that based on plumage similarities the bare-eyed pigeon, picazuro pigeon (P. picazuro), spot-winged pigeon (P. maculosa), and scaled pigeon (P. speciosa) form a monophyletic group. Others argue that significant vocal differences belie that.[3][4]

The bare-eyed pigeon is monophyletic.[2]

Description

Male bare-eyed pigeons are 32 to 37 cm (13 to 15 in) long and females 30 to 34.5 cm (11.8 to 13.6 in). They weigh about 274 g (9.7 oz). Male and female plumage is the same. Their head, neck, and breast are mauve-pink. The orange-brown eye is surrounded by bare skin, a narrow blue ring and a wider outer area of reddish brown. The neck and upper back have a bronze-black and pale brown scaled appearance and the lower back and rump are pale bluish gray. The chin and vent region are white. The closed wing shows a broad white patch. The juvenile is a paler version of the adults.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The bare-eyed pigeon is found on the Caribbean coasts of Colombia and Venezuela and the near-shore islands of Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Margarita, and Blanquilla. It primarily inhabits an arid landscape of thorn scrub, cactus, and acacia and is also found in mangroves and cultivated areas. It can be found as high as 400 m (1,300 ft) above sea level on the mainland but is generally much lower.[4]

The species was also introduced to the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean at the end of 2012 or the beginning of 2013, where its population has since greatly increased and spread across the entire island.[5]

Behavior

Feeding

The bare-eyed pigeon does most of its foraging in trees and shrubs but also feeds on the ground. Its diet is seeds and fruits of trees, vines, and cultivated crops.[4]

Breeding

The bare-eyed pigeon's breeding cycle appears to be triggered by rain. The nest is a fragile platform of twigs in a tree or shrub. It is so thin that the species' single egg can be seen through it from below.[4]

Vocalization

Dickcissel male perched on a metal pole singing, with neck stretched and beak open.

Songs and calls
Listen to bare-eyed pigeon on xeno-canto

The bare-eyed pigeon's song is "a rhythmic series of coos...rwhoh...woh-hu-whOAh...woh-hu-whOAh..woh-hu-whOAh...".[4]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the bare-eyed pigeon as being of Least Concern.[1] It is "[h]eavily hunted and therefore shy and timid, but appears to be relatively secure."[4]

References

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2016). "Patagioenas corensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22690247A93267545. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22690247A93267545.en.
  2. ^ a b Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (July 2021). "IOC World Bird List (v 11.2)". Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  3. ^ Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 24 August 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved August 24, 2021
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Baptista, L. F., P. W. Trail, H. M. Horblit, and P. F. D. Boesman (2020). Bare-eyed Pigeon (Patagioenas corensis), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.baepig2.01 retrieved September 13, 2021
  5. ^ Cambrone, Christopher; Levesque, Anthony; Cézilly, Frank (2024-07-30). "Using Citizen Science and Field Surveys to Document the Introduction, Establishment, and Rapid Spread of the Bare-Eyed Pigeon, Patagioenas corensis, on the Island of Saint-Martin, West Indies". Biology. 13 (8): 585. doi:10.3390/biology13080585. ISSN 2079-7737. PMC 11351522.