From Opus

Patagioenas cayennensis

Photo by Pantanal1
Location: Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

[edit] Identification

Length 30-32cm, Weight normally 230-250 gm.

Males - purple head, upperparts and breast, copper sheen to nape, white throat. Tail and lower back, dark grey, underparts pale grey, black bill, eyering, iris and legs are red. Female similar but duller. Juveniles are grey-brown.

[edit] Similar Species

Scaled Pigeon.

[edit] Distribution

Southern Mexico south through Central and South America to Bolivia and northern Argentina and on Tobago and Trinidad.

[edit] Taxonomy

Clements¹ recognizes five subspecies, cayennensis, andersoni, tobagensis, pallidicrissa, and sylvestris. Other sources (e.g., Restall²) also recognize occidentalis.
It belongs to a clade of Patagioenas which generally lack iridescent display plumage, although this species has some coppery gloss on the nape (Johnson et al. 2001).

[edit] Habitat

Forest edges, riverbanks, and other partially open areas with some trees.

[edit] Behaviour

It builds a small nest of twigs in a small tree, and normally lays one white egg.

Diet mainly includes small fruits, berries and seed. This is a fairly solitary bird, but may form small flocks at drinking areas.

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
2. Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156

[edit] External Links