Pale-vented Pigeon

The pale-vented pigeon (''Patagioenas cayennensis'') is a large pigeon (family Columbidae) found in the tropical Americas. Formerly often placed in ''Columba'', it actually belongs to a clade of the older New World genus ''Patagioenas''. With its relatives it represents an evolutionary radiation extending through most of the warm-temperate to tropical Americas. Grey-hued birds, even their males generally lack iridescent display plumage, although the present species has some coppery gloss on the nape.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''. ''Auk'' 118(4): 874–887. DOI:10.1642/0004-8038(2001)118 874:AMPOTD.0.CO;
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It is a resident breeder from southern Mexico south to Bolivia and northern Argentina and on Tobago and Trinidad, although it is very localised on the latter island. Vagrants are occasionally seen in adjacent regions; for example, the species is noted to stray into Uruguay from Argentina and occasionally from Brazil, but it has never been noted to breed or even maintain a permanent presence in the former country.Azpiroz, Adrián B. & Menéndez, José L. (2008): Three new species and novel distributional data for birds in Uruguay. '' Bull. B.O.C.'' 128(1): 38–56.

Description

The pale-vented pigeon is 30–32 cm long and weighs normally 230–250 g. Adult males have a mainly dull purple head, breast and upperpart plumage, with copper glossing on the nape and a whitish throat. The lower back and tail are dark grey and the lower underparts are pale grey. The bill is black and the legs, iris and eyering are red. The female is similar, but duller than the male, and immatures are greyish-brown, very dull, and mainly greyish brown.

The southern subspecies ''P. c. andersoni'' has white lower underparts, rather than the pale grey of nominate ''P. c. cayennensis''.

The call is a row of soft ''kuk kuk croo-ooo''s; the initial short ''kuk'' is characteristic for the "''cayennensis'' group" of ''Patagioenas''. Altogether, this species' song is intermediate between that of its close relatives the plain (''P. inornata'') and red-billed pigeons (''P. flavirostris'').Mahler, Bettina & Tubaro, Pablo L. (2001): Relationship between song characters and morphology in New World pigeons. '' Biol. J. Linn. Soc.'' 74(4): 533–539. (HTML abstract)

It may in the field resemble a scaled pigeon (''P. speciosa''), which has a similar display flight. These two large species are also the only pigeons in their range which are often seen flying in the open away from forests. But of course ''P. cayennensis'' lacks the scaly appearance, and the calls and appearance from close by indicate that the two are not particularly close relatives among their congeners.

Ecology

The pale-vented pigeon is common at forest edges, riverbanks, and other partially open areas with some trees. It feeds mainly on small fruits, berries and seed. This is a fairly solitary bird, but may form small flocks at drinking areas. Its flight is high, fast and direct, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings which are characteristic of pigeons in general.

It also has a breeding display with a semi-circular glide down to its original perch. It builds a small twig nest in a small tree, and normally lays one white egg.

Widespread and common, it is classified a species of least concern by the IUCN.

References

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{{Taxonbar, from=Q1263074

pale-vented pigeon
Birds of Central America
Birds of South America
pale-vented pigeon