White-throated Ground Dove
Pampusana xanthonura
This dove is accurately but misleadingly-named, for the male’s whole upper body is white, not just his throat; he also has a wine-red patch on the back and upperwing. Female is dirt-brown with darker back and wings. Inhabits the Northern Mariana Islands and Yap, in the Caroline Islands. Found in both pristine and degraded forest, often near habitated areas. Forages primarily on the ground on Yap and in trees and bushes on the Marianas. Coos are deep and sonorous.
Identification
This species averages 26 cm (10 in) in length and weighs 58.5–140 g (2.06–4.94 oz). The male white-throated ground dove has a chocolate brown body with white head and breast while the females are shade of brown with no white on the body.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pampusana xanthonura
- Authority
- (Temminck, 1823)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Pampusana
Range and habitat
The dove is frequent appearing in its natural undisturbed environment which mainly consists of native forest, it can also be found in introduced plantations or secondary forests. The dove does not migrate.The white-throated ground dove is found on Yap and in the Northern Mariana Islands. It once inhabited Guam but the Guam population was made extinct from the predation of the introduced brown tree snake Boiga irregularis.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Males are seen more often than females; both are very territorial. These birds are very shy and are often hard to find in the thick forests in which they reside. The males are forage for food and fly throughout the forests they inhabit while the females usually stay hidden. The white-throated ground dove likes to sun itself.
Conservation
A conservation effort was started by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. It aims to monitor populations and restrict hunting in the most affected areas. The conservation effort is also setting aside land and creating barriers and setting up devices to stop invasive species from affecting population. Future captive-breeding plans are underway.
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
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