Scarlet-breasted Fruit-Dove
Ptilinopus bernsteinii
A large, long-tailed green fruit-dove with a yellow-orange lower belly, a pale gray head, and a conspicuous red breast patch in males that is lacking in females. Usually encountered singly or in pairs within the canopy and understory of forest and wooded areas in both lowlands and hills, typically being more abundant in the foothills. Longer-tailed than other local fruit-doves; scarlet breast patch easily identifies males, and both sexes can be identified by their vibrant yellow-orange belly. Call is a staccato two-noted “koo-wooh.”
Identification
The scarlet-breasted fruit dove is a small or medium-sized bird, measuring 29 centimetres (11 in) in length. It has a grey head which has a green wash. The rest of the upperparts and breast are bright green in colour. The male is patched with bright scarlet, at the middle of the lower breast. It has an orange-yellow belly, and chestnut undertail coverts. The underwing coverts are also orange-yellow.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Ptilinopus bernsteinii
- Authority
- Schlegel, 1863
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Ptilinopus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
It is presumably a frugivorous species. It is normally quiet, and has been described to emit deep, soft oohoo calls. It also emits odd growling calls. It usually quietly forages alone or in pairs, in forest canopies.
Conservation
Since 1988, the scarlet-breasted fruit dove has been rated as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. This is because although it has a restricted range, the range size is more than 20,000 km2 (7,700 mi2) with a stable population trend. In addition, although its population numbers have not been determined, it is thought to be above 10,000, which does not meet the criterion to warrant a vulnerable rating. The species is described as "uncommon to moderately common", and there is no evidence of major threat to their population.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Cameroon Speirops
Zosterops melanocephalus
A dull dark brown white-eye with a distinctive white forecrown, white eye-ring and throat, and pale bill and legs; eyes are also often pale. A local but common resident restricted to Mount Cameroon, found in small groups between 1800 and 2800 meters of elevation. Prefers scrub at forest margins and alpine shrubland. Gives a loud, rolling musical song, “cheet-tee-too-too-twee-too-dee-dzoo” with variations, and other soft calls. Forest White-eye is much brighter than Cameroon Speirops but may occasionally join it in flocks.
Brown-breasted Barbet
Pogonornis melanopterus
Large and unusually colored barbet, with a mostly red head, a broad brown band across the underparts, a black back, and a white belly and rump patch. Also note the chunky pale bill. Found locally in moist woodland, gardens, and along forest edge. Often in pairs. The easily ignored call is a rough, repeated “kyea”. Somewhat similar to Black-billed Barbet, but easily separated by the brown rather than black breast band, and the pale rather than dark bill.
Levant Sparrowhawk
Tachyspiza brevipes
Small, dark-eyed hawk of woodland, scrub, riparian corridors, and wooded plains and slopes. Note the adult's grayish upperparts and orange-barred underparts; females are larger and darker than males, with a dark central throat stripe. When in flight, note contrast between pale underwings and dark wingtips. Juveniles are brown above and striped below. Compared to the slightly larger Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Levant is neater-looking and more falcon-like, with more pointed wings. Also compare with very similar Shikra and various African sparrowhawks in its wintering range. Strongly migratory; often migrates in huge, tight flocks. Feeds on birds, which it catches in rapid low flight.
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