Short-billed Pigeons
(Columbidae - Please see also Doves)
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The Short-billed Pigeon, Patagioenas nigrirostris (see Johnson et al., 2001), is a largish pigeon which breeds from southern Mexico south to northwestern Colombia.
This species is replaced at higher altitudes by the very similar Ruddy Pigeon, Patagioenas subvinacea.
Breeding / Nesting:
It is found in lowland forest canopy and semi-open woodland, and builds a rudimentary platform nest out of twigs 5-30 m high in a tree or amongst vines. It lays one white egg.
Description:
The Short-billed Pigeon is 26.5 cm long and weighs 150 g. It is unpatterned and mainly wine-purple in color, becoming browner on the belly and more olive-brown on the back. The tail and primary flight feathers are blackish, the bill is black, and the legs and eyes are purple-red.
The female is slightly duller and browner than the male, and the juvenile bird has a greyish brown head, neck and breast, with cinnamon scaling on the head and upperparts.
Call / Vocalization:
Short-billed Pigeon has a loud cu-COO k’-COO call.
Diet / Feeding:
It is normally sighted in pairs as it forages in the tree tops for mistletoe, fruits and berries, but may also be seen on tracks and roadsides seeking grit or small invertebrates.
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.org)
Personality & Pet Potential:
Elizabeth Young, Mickaboo Pigeon & Dove Coordinator, provides the following info:
Pigeons need:
- Safe place (indoors or outdoors, protected from weather and predators)
- Room to move (a space that is 3’ high, 3’ wide, 6’ long is good for 1 to 2 birds)
- Fresh food (pigeon feed), water, grit & greens daily
- Easy clean-up floor &/or Pigeon Pants (www.birdwearonline.com)
- Company (either yours or another pigeon’s)
- Family planning (if you have a mated pair, you need to replace real eggs w/ fake ones)
- Avian Vet Care if they become sick or injured
To adopt a pigeon, contact Elizabeth at AdoptKings@gmail.com or (415) 420-7204
For more info:
- Come meet King Pigeons at Andy’s Pet Shop on 1280 The Alameda (at Julian) in San Jose
- Visit Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue at www.mickaboo.org
- Check out www.pigeons.biz/forums (a great web group with lots of info and resources) Read about King Pigeon rescue at www.RescueReport.org
Pigeon Rescue:
Mickaboo Pigeon & Dove Coordinator - Contact: Elizabeth Young
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