Dusky Pigeon
Patagioenas goodsoni
This pigeon is found in the Choco region of western Colombia and Ecuador. It is fairly dull grayish-brown overall, especially gray on the head and breast with a warmer reddish tone on the nape. Compare with Ruddy Pigeon, which is typically brighter reddish on the head and breast. Most easily distinguished by voice. Dusky sings a three-note song, with a higher, longer first note followed by two shorter clipped notes: “WHOOO, whoop, whoop!” Also gives a growling call similar to other pigeons. Occurs in lowlands and foothills up to around 1,500 m. Can be fairly common, especially by voice, but sometimes is difficult to spot in the canopy.
Identification
The dusky pigeon is about 24 cm (9.4 in) long. Its head, throat, and breast are gray or purplish gray. Its nape is gray glossed with purple. Its shoulders, back, and rump are olive brown or dark purplish brown. The wings and tail are bronzy gray, sometimes glossed with purple. Its eye can be any of several shades of red.
Taxonomy
The dusky pigeon is most closely related to the ruddy pigeon (P. subvinacea), short-billed pigeon (P. nigrirostris), and plumbeous pigeon (P. plumbia), and they have sometimes been placed in subgenus Oenoenas. The dusky pigeon is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Patagioenas goodsoni
- Authority
- (Hartert, EJO, 1902)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Patagioenas
Range and habitat
The dusky pigeon is found in the Chocó Biogeographic Region from Colombia near the Panamanian border south to the Río Palenque in northwestern Ecuador. It inhabits rainforest, mostly in lowlands but as high as 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in elevation.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
No information on the dusky pigeon's foraging behavior or diet has been published.<p>Specimens of dusky pigeon in breeding condition were taken between January and May and also in August, but no further information about the species' breeding phenology has been published.<p>The dusky pigeon's song is "a repeated phrase of three rather high-pitched coos whoah..pup..pup. Its call is "a purring, drawn out rrrrow.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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