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Western bronze-naped pigeon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Western bronze-naped pigeon
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columba
Species:
C. iriditorques
Binomial name
Columba iriditorques
Cassin, 1856

The western bronze-naped pigeon (Columba iriditorques) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae, part of the subgenus Turturoena. A medium sized bird, it has a pale, broad terminal tail band which is noticeable on landing. It is found in most countries of Africa. The IUCN Red List classifies it as a species of least concern.

Taxonomy

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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.[2]

Description

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A medium sized bird, the western bronze-naped pigeon measures about 25 centimetres (9.8 in) in length.[2] It has a pale, broad terminal tail band which is noticeable on landing.[3] The adult male weighs about 130 grams (4.6 oz),[2] and has dark bluish grey head, and dark vinous belly and breast.[3] The adult female weighs about 122 grams (4.3 oz),[2] and has cinnamon-reddish brown crown, and greyish chestnut underparts.[3]

Distribution and habitat

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It is widespread across the African tropical rainforest.

Status and conservation

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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.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2016). "Columba iriditorques". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22690346A93270567. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22690346A93270567.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Baptista, L.F.; Trail, P.W.; Horblit, H.M.; Boesman, P. (2016). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David A; de Juana, Eduardo (eds.). "Western Bronze-naped Pigeon (Columba iriditorques)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions. Archived from the original on 2017-07-12. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  3. ^ a b c Stevenson, Terry; Fanshawe, John (2004). Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi. A&C Black. p. 166. ISBN 9780713673470.
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