Western Bronze-naped Pigeon
Columba iriditorques
Blackish, short-tailed, medium-sized pigeon. Both sexes have reddish underparts, and the male shows a contrastingly gray head. There is a buff tip to the tail which can be conspicuous in flight. Found in rainforest and gallery forest. Inconspicuous bird that spends most of its time in the forest canopy. Song is a “bouncing ball” accelerating series of low hoots. Fairly similar to Lemon Dove, but rarely found in the understory, and has a dark face. Male could be confused with Blue-headed Wood-Dove, but has a much darker back, and is usually found higher in the forest.
Identification
A medium sized bird, the western bronze-naped pigeon measures about 25 centimetres (9.8 in) in length. It has a pale, broad terminal tail band which is noticeable on landing. The adult male weighs about 130 grams (4.6 oz), and has dark bluish grey head, and dark vinous belly and breast. The adult female weighs about 122 grams (4.3 oz), and has cinnamon-reddish brown crown, and greyish chestnut underparts.
Taxonomy
The species was first described in 1856 by the American ornithologist John Cassin. It is occasionally considered conspecific (belonging to the same species) with the eastern bronze-naped pigeon (Columba delegorguei) and the island bronze-naped pigeon (Columba malherbii), and the three species are sometimes placed in the subgenus Turturoena.
- Scientific name
- Columba iriditorques
- Authority
- Cassin, 1856
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Columba
Range and habitat
It is widespread across the African tropical rainforest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
Since 1988, the western bronze-naped pigeon has been rated as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List. This is because it has a large range, and because its population is stable and thought not to have declined by 30% over ten years or three generations. Although the population size has not been measured, it is thought to be more than the threshold required to warrant it a vulnerable rating. There is no evidence of any population decline of the species, or substantial threat to it.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Malaysian Plover
Anarhynchus peronii
Small pale plover, typically found on sandy beaches. Occasionally visits estuaries, seawalls, and mudflats as well. Very similar in all plumages to Kentish Plover, with which it occasionally mixes. Male is sandy brown with a black collar, pale face, and a rufous-and-black crown. Thinner collar and eye-line than Kentish Plover. Female and juvenile are similarly brown with a white collar and face. All plumages have diagnostically pale-fringed feathers which give the bird a worn, faded-out appearance; molting Kentish Plover may appear worn but not in such a uniform manner.
Zimmer's Tody-Tyrant
Hemitriccus minimus
Very small flycatcher with a long thin bill and yellow eyes. Brownish-olive above and olive-buff below with indistinct dusky streaks. Note the two distinct yellow wingbars. Found mostly in forests on poor-quality soils, such as white-sand forests. The song is a ringing trill “Trieeee.” Similar to Snethlage’s Tody-Tyrant, but Zimmer’s has more distinct wingbars and a very different song.
Tropical Boubou
Laniarius major
Robust black-and-white bushshrike. There is a pale cinnamon wash on the belly and a white stripe across the top of the wing. Found in dense microhabitats within forest, woodland, thickets, and gardens. Not particularly shy, but spends most of its time in dense cover, usually in pairs. Highly vocal bird with a variety of calls. The song is a synchronized duet of hollow hoots from the male and ratcheting calls from the female. Has a very similar color pattern to other boubous, but its underparts are paler than those of Southern Boubou and darker than those of Swamp Boubou. Has a white stripe on the wing, unlike Zanzibar Boubou.
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