Scaled Pigeon

Overview

The Patagioenas speciosa is a large New World tropical dove that serves as a resident breeder across parts of the Americas. It is classified as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Measures 36 cm in length and weighs approximately 290 g, with adult males displaying purple-brown plumage that has a paler, scaly appearance on the neck and underparts.
• Females are duller dark brown and slightly smaller than the males, while both sexes possess red eyerings, legs, and bills with white tips.
• Flight is high, fast, and direct, featuring regular wingbeats with occasional sharp flicks.
• The call consists of deep cooing cro-kuks that differ significantly from the calls of related species.

Habitat

This species is typically found in semi-open forests and ranges from southern Mexico south to western Ecuador, southern Brazil, northern Argentina, and Trinidad. It is usually very wary due to frequent hunting.

Diet

The bird feeds primarily on forest fruits and seeds, but has also been observed consuming fresh green leaves and occasionally crops. It is a solitary forager that does not form flocks.

Did you know?

Although it commonly builds stick platform nests in trees, the scaled pigeon has been recorded nesting successfully on ferns at ground level and within the canopy of tree ferns.