Mourning Collared-Dove
Streptopelia decipiens
A medium-sized mostly buff-brown”‘ringneck” dove with a rosy-mauve neck and breast, dusky gray head, and a uniquely yellow eye surrounded by red bare skin. In flight it has visible white in the outer tail. Frequents savanna and woodland, particularly alongside humans and in well-wooded areas. Produces a distinctive “Look AT me” song, as well as a variety of crooning throaty “craaaooow” calls. All similar ringneck-doves lack the yellow eye surrounded by red bare skin.
Identification
The mourning collared dove is a largish, stocky pigeon, up to 31 cm in length. Its back, wings and tail are pale brown. The head is grey and the underparts are pink, shading to pale grey on the belly. There is a black hind neck patch edged with white. The legs and a patch of bare skin around the eye are red.<p>When flying, it shows blackish flight feathers and extensive white in the tail, the latter being a distinction from the similar but larger red-eyed dove. The call is a fast krrrrrrrr, oo-OO, oo.<p>Sexes are similar, but immatures are duller than adults, and have scalloping on the body feathers.
Taxonomy
Genus: Streptopelia; Family: Columbidae; Order: Columbiformes.
- Scientific name
- Streptopelia decipiens
- Authority
- (Hartlaub & Finsch, 1870)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Streptopelia
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Taiwan Hwamei
Garrulax taewanus
Lightly streaked brown songbird with starkly pale eyes found in edge habitat and scrubby areas in Taiwan. Chinese Hwamei, which has been introduced in Taiwan, has an unstreaked head, dark eyes, and distinctive bluish lines behind the eyes. Hybridization threatens this species’ survival. An accomplished songster, but unlike the Chinese Hwamei, does not mimic other species.
Waved Albatross
Phoebastria irrorata
Large and gangly seabird that nests only in Galápagos and on Isla de la Plata (a small island near Ecuador’s central coast). When not breeding, it disperses over the eastern Pacific Ocean as far south as Chile. The only albatross likely to be seen in and near Galápagos. Adult is brown with a white head and neck and a large, yellow bill. Head and neck have a slight yellow tinge. Young birds are almost all brown and gradually develop the white head. Can be seen on land only at nesting sites, where pairs engage in elaborate courtship displays. Outside of the breeding season, it is usually only encountered far out to sea.
Velvety Manakin
Lepidothrix velutina
Small, short-tailed bird found in lowland and foothill rainforest. Male is easy to identify with his glossy black body and azure crown. Female is mostly lime green with a yellowish belly; her plumage is much greener than other similar species such as Choco Manakin and female Red-capped Manakin. Most common call is a short, ringing trill. Male’s display song is a buzzy “purwit!”. Usually seen at lower to middle levels in the forest, plucking berries from fruiting trees. Formerly called Blue-crowned Manakin before that species was split. Velvety Manakin’s range includes Costa Rica, Panama, western Colombia, and northwestern Ecuador.
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