Spot-winged Pigeon

Overview

The spot-winged pigeon (Patagioenas maculosa) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae found across parts of South America. It is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN and is considered common and widespread in the southern part of its range.

Identification

• 32 to 34 cm in length with a weight of 308 to 347 g for the nominate subspecies.
• Dull purplish pink forehead, crown, nape, hindneck, and breast, with grey head and underparts.
• Dark brown upper back and wing coverts with creamy white spots; wings are black above and pale grey below.
• Song is a rhythmic series of hoarse coos, such as 'cuuuuu uh-cuh-cuuuh', repeated two or three times.

Habitat

The nominate subspecies inhabits arid to semi-arid open woodland and scrub up to 1,000 m in elevation in southeastern Bolivia, Paraguay, southern Brazil, Uruguay, and south-central Argentina. The P. m. albipennis subspecies is found in similar habitats but at elevations generally between 2,000 and 4,300 m in central Peru, western and central Bolivia, extreme northwestern Argentina, and far northern Chile.

Diet

Both subspecies typically feed in flocks on the ground. The diet of P. m. maculosa consists mostly of seeds, including rice and sunflower, though it has been observed eating fruit and leaves. The diet of P. m. albipennis has not been studied.

Did you know?

While P. m. maculosa shuns towns, its relative P. m. albipennis is locally common in towns. The two subspecies differ significantly in plumage, with P. m. albipennis featuring a conspicuous white band on the folded wing.