White-crowned Pigeon

Overview

The white-crowned pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala) is a fruit and seed-eating bird in the family Columbidae, primarily found in the Caribbean. It is currently classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

Identification

• Measures 29–35 cm in length with a wingspan of 48–59 cm and a weight of 150–301 g.
• Plumage ranges from slate gray to almost black, featuring an iridescent collar-patch that shows barred white and green patterns under good lighting.
• Distinct crown-patch is bright white in males and grey-white in most females; birds have a pale-tipped red bill and white irises.
• Vocalisation is a loud, deep coo-cura-coo or coo-croo.

Habitat

Found mainly in the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, and Antigua, with smaller populations across other Caribbean islands and the Caribbean coast of Central America. In the United States, it is restricted to the Florida Keys, Everglades, and the southern tip of mainland Florida. The species primarily breeds in low-lying coastal mangrove forests but travels inland to feed on fruits and seeds.

Diet

The bird feeds on the fruits and seeds of a wide variety of plants, travelling inland from coastal nesting grounds to access these resources. In Florida, it often feeds on the fruit of poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum), a native plant that causes severe dermatitis in humans.

Did you know?

John James Audubon depicted these pigeons in his Birds of America watercolour painting in the early 19th century. The species is also notable for its tendency to simply abandon its nest if it feels encroached upon.