The plain pigeon (Patagioenas inornata) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in the four Greater Antilles: Cuba, Hispaniola (in the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. Its natural habitats are forest, woodland, coastal desert, mangrove and swampy areas. It is threatened by habitat loss and illegal hunting.
| Plain pigeon | |
|---|---|
| |
| P. i. wetmorei in Puerto Rico | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Columbiformes |
| Family: | Columbidae |
| Genus: | Patagioenas |
| Species: | P. inornata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Patagioenas inornata (Vigors, 1827)
| |
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Columba inornata Vigors, 1827 | |
Description
editThe plain pigeon is a large-bodied bird (38 cm [15 in]) that superficially resembles the common city pigeon. At a distance it appears pale blue-gray overall. The head, hindneck, breast, and part of the folded wing are colored with a red-wine wash. When folded, the wing shows a white leading edge; in flight, it forms a conspicuous wing bar. Legs and feet are dark red. The female is slightly smaller and duller than the male. Juveniles are browner overall, with pale wing margins and dark eyes.
Taxonomy
editThe plain pigeon is thought to represent a fairly recent island adaptation of the red-billed pigeon (P. flavirostria) or the Maranon pigeon (P. oenops), found in Central and South America.
Subspecies
editThree subspecies of the plain pigeon are recognized:
- P. i. inornata from Cuba and Hispaniola
- P. i. exigua from Jamaica
- P. i. wetmorei from Puerto Rico.
During the 1970s, P. i. wetmorei was on the brink of extinction. A conservation program was introduced to save the species and now it numbers a few thousand individuals.[2]
References
edit- ^ BirdLife International (2020). "Patagioenas inornata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22690312A178305283. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22690312A178305283.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "Plain Pigeon Patagioenas inornata wetmorei" (PDF). FWS. US Fish & Wildlife. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
External links
edit- Birds of the World Species Factsheet.
- Explore Species: Plain Pigeon at eBird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
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