The Short-billed Pigeons, Patagioenas nigrirostris (see Johnson et al., 2001), is a large pigeon that breeds from southern Mexico south to northwestern Colombia.
This species is replaced at higher altitudes by the very similar Ruddy Pigeon, Patagioenas subvinacea.
Breeding / Nesting:
It is found in lowland forest canopy and semi-open woodland and builds a rudimentary platform nest out of twigs 5-30 m high in a tree or amongst vines. It lays one white egg.
(Columbidae – Please see also Doves)
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Description:
The Short-billed Pigeons are 26.5 cm long and weigh 150 g. It is unpatterned and mainly wine-purple, becoming browner on the belly and more olive-brown on the back. The tail and primary flight feathers are blackish, the bill is black, and the legs and eyes are purple-red.
The female is slightly duller and browner than the male, and the juvenile bird has a greyish brown head, neck, and breast, with cinnamon scaling on the head and upperparts.
Call / Vocalization:
Short-billed Pigeon has a loud cu-COO k’-COO call.
Diet / Feeding:
It is normally sighted in pairs as it forages in the tree tops for mistletoe, fruits, and berries, but may also be seen on tracks and roadsides seeking grit or small invertebrates.
