Madagascar Green-Pigeon
Treron australis
Medium-sized chunky pigeon that is mostly pale green, with black wings and a pale wing stripe. Flight is very fast and direct. Sometimes found alone, though more often in small groups. Widespread but erratic; local abundance linked to the availability of fruit, its main food. Found in many habitats including spiny forest, dry deciduous forest, rainforest, villages, and scrub, mostly at low and middle elevations. Most common in dry habitats in western Madagascar. Voice is a quiet but maniacal series of sputters, whistles, and cackles. This is the only green pigeon within its range.
Identification
The Madagascar green pigeon or Madagascan green pigeon (Treron australis) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. The taxon griveaudi, by most authorities considered a subspecies of the Madagascan green pigeon, is sometimes considered a separate species, the Comoros green pigeon (Treron comorensis). Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.
Taxonomy
In 1760 the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson included a description of the Madagascar green pigeon in his Ornithologie based on specimen that he had examined. He used the French name Le pigeon ramier verd de Madagascar and the Latin Palumbus viridis madagascariensis. The species was also illustrated in Edme-Louis Daubenton's Planches Enluminées D'Histoire Naturelle. Although Brisson coined Latin names, these do not conform to the binomial system and are not recognised by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. When the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus revised his Mantissa Plantarum in 1771 he added an appendix which included a description of the Madagascar green pigeon. He coined the binomial name Columba australis and cited the earlier authors. The specific epithet australis is the Latin word for "southern". The species is now placed in the genus Treron that was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot.<p>Two subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Treron australis
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1771)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Treron
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Chestnut-capped Thrush
Geokichla interpres
Shy and seldom-seen jewel of a thrush. Note dark chestnut hood, gray back, and sharply-patterned black-and-white wing patches. Found in forested areas from lowlands up into foothills. Most often forages on the ground but will visit fruiting trees. Song is a series of widely-spaced chirrups, whistles, and twanging notes.
Pohnpei Kingfisher
Todiramphus reichenbachii
The only kingfisher on Pohnpei. Dashing, with a dark greenish-blue back, snow-white underparts and collar, and orange crown. Favors open wooded habitats such as forest edge, gardens, and early-successional forest. Pounces on prey from a low and exposed perch. Gives a loud, insistent series of “kweep”s.
Ringed Teal
Callonetta leucophrys
Small distinctive duck. Males have a pinkish breast that is spotted in black with a rich chestnut wing and a metallic green patch on the flight feathers. Note the blue bill. Females have a striking brown-and-white face pattern, and are mostly brown above and mottled or banded brown below. In flight shows dark wings with white-and-green bands. Occurs in marshes and swamps with abundant vegetation; can be even seen perched on fences or low trees.
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