Short-billed Pigeon

Overview

The short-billed pigeon (Patagioenas nigrirostris) is a largish pigeon species found in the Americas. It belongs to a clade of Patagioenas that includes smaller, plainer species with characteristic calls, constituting the subgenus Oenoenas. The species is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Length of 26.5 cm and weight of 150 g with a mainly wine-purple plumage that is browner on the belly and olive-brown on the back.
• Black bill with purple-red legs and eyes, and blackish tail and primary flight feathers.
• Female appears slightly duller and browner than the male, while juveniles have a greyish-brown head, neck, and breast with cinnamon scaling.
• Emits a complex, loud, high-pitched call described as 'coo... cu-COO k’CO coohoo', usually uttered singly or with considerable pauses.

Habitat

Breeds from southern Mexico south to northwestern Colombia, inhabiting lowland forest canopies and semi-open woodlands. At higher altitudes in southern Central America, it is replaced by the very similar ruddy pigeon (Patagioenas subvinacea).

Diet

Typically forages in tree tops for mistletoe, fruits, and berries, though it may also visit tracks and roadsides to seek grit or small invertebrates.

Did you know?

It can be distinguished from the very similar ruddy pigeon by its slower, more complex 'song'.