Ruddy Pigeon
Encyclopedia
The Ruddy Pigeon, Patagioenas subvinacea, is a largish pigeon
which breeds from Costa Rica
south to western Ecuador
, Bolivia
and central Brazil
. It belongs to a clade
of small and rather plain species of Patagioenas with characteristic calls that constitute the subgenus Oenoenas. Like the other New World
pigeons, it was formerly united with their Old World relatives in Columba
, but today the New World genus
Patagioenas is recognized as distinct again.
The Ruddy Pigeon is 28 cm (11 in) long and weighs 170 g. It is unpatterned and mainly wine-purple in colour, becoming more rufous on the back. The tail and primary flight feathers are dark brown, the bill is black, and the legs are purple-red. The iris
is typically red, but can, at least in the Amazon basin
, sometimes be dull yellow (however, due to the red eye-ring, the iris never appears as conspicuously white as in adults of the sympatric subspecies
of the Plumbeous Pigeon
, P. plumbea). The female is slightly duller and browner than the male, and the juvenile bird has a greyish brown head, neck and breast, with cinnamon or rufous scaling on the head and upperparts.
It has a loud and fairly high-pitched coo, ko'COO coo call, with considerable pauses between calls just as in its relatives. There are some geographical variations in its voice, with some populations singing four-noted songs, while others sing three-noted songs.
In Central America
, the Ruddy Pigeon is replaced at lower altitudes by its close relative, the very similar Short-billed Pigeon
(P. nigrirostris). The two species are best separated by call, which is faster and less complex in P. subvinacea.
In Central America it is found in highland forest canopy and semi-open woodland from 1,500 m (5,000 ft) ASL
to the timberline. In South America
it occurs in the canopy of humid forest from near sea-level to 1,500 m (5,000 ft) ASL, occasionally higher; exceptionally, they may range up to 3,000 m ASL or more. It is not uncommon across its wide range and thus classified as a Speciers of Least Concern
by the IUCN.
It is normally seen in pairs as it forages in the tree tops for fruits and berries – being particularly fond of mistletoe
fruit – but may occasionally be seen on tracks and roadside seeking grit. It builds a rudimentary platform nest out of twigs 5 m high in a small tree, and lays one white egg.
Dove
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
which breeds from Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
south to western Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
and central Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. It belongs to a clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
of small and rather plain species of Patagioenas with characteristic calls that constitute the subgenus Oenoenas. Like the other New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
pigeons, it was formerly united with their Old World relatives in Columba
Columba (genus)
The large bird genus Columba comprises a group of medium to large stout-bodied pigeons, often referred to as the typical pigeons. The terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used indiscriminately for smaller and larger Columbidae, respectively...
, but today the New World genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Patagioenas is recognized as distinct again.
The Ruddy Pigeon is 28 cm (11 in) long and weighs 170 g. It is unpatterned and mainly wine-purple in colour, becoming more rufous on the back. The tail and primary flight feathers are dark brown, the bill is black, and the legs are purple-red. The iris
Iris (anatomy)
The iris is a thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and thus the amount of light reaching the retina. "Eye color" is the color of the iris, which can be green, blue, or brown. In some cases it can be hazel , grey, violet, or even pink...
is typically red, but can, at least in the Amazon basin
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
, sometimes be dull yellow (however, due to the red eye-ring, the iris never appears as conspicuously white as in adults of the sympatric subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Plumbeous Pigeon
Plumbeous Pigeon
The Plumbeous Pigeon is a species of bird in the Columbidae family. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela....
, P. plumbea). The female is slightly duller and browner than the male, and the juvenile bird has a greyish brown head, neck and breast, with cinnamon or rufous scaling on the head and upperparts.
It has a loud and fairly high-pitched coo, ko'COO coo call, with considerable pauses between calls just as in its relatives. There are some geographical variations in its voice, with some populations singing four-noted songs, while others sing three-noted songs.
In Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, the Ruddy Pigeon is replaced at lower altitudes by its close relative, the very similar Short-billed Pigeon
Short-billed Pigeon
The Short-billed Pigeon, Patagioenas nigrirostris , is a largish pigeon which breeds from southern Mexico south to northwestern Colombia...
(P. nigrirostris). The two species are best separated by call, which is faster and less complex in P. subvinacea.
In Central America it is found in highland forest canopy and semi-open woodland from 1,500 m (5,000 ft) ASL
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
to the timberline. In South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
it occurs in the canopy of humid forest from near sea-level to 1,500 m (5,000 ft) ASL, occasionally higher; exceptionally, they may range up to 3,000 m ASL or more. It is not uncommon across its wide range and thus classified as a Speciers of Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
by the IUCN.
It is normally seen in pairs as it forages in the tree tops for fruits and berries – being particularly fond of mistletoe
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemi-parasitic plants in several families in the order Santalales. The plants in question grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub.-Mistletoe in the genus Viscum:...
fruit – but may occasionally be seen on tracks and roadside seeking grit. It builds a rudimentary platform nest out of twigs 5 m high in a small tree, and lays one white egg.
External links
- Ruddy Pigeon videos-(Columba subvinacea) on the Internet Bird Collection
- Ruddy Pigion photo gallery VIREO
- Photo-High Res; Article mangoverde Photo-2--High Res