Birds of Southern Africa / Discuss

Francois Dreyer    says:

Eastern Bronze-napped (Delegorgue's) Pigeon (Columba delegorguei)


Photo taken by Alan Manson

Other names:
Afrikaans: Withalsbosduif
German: Bronzehalstaube, Glanznackentaube
French: Pigeon de Delegorgue
Dutch: Delegorgue-duif
Portuguese: Pombo de Delegorgue

The Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon has a height of 30 cms and weighs around 160 gms. The head is coloured grey while the bill is coloured grey. The Columba delegorguei has a grey coloured throat, pink legs and a grey coloured back. The eyes are brown.

The male Columba delegorguei has physical features that are slightly different from the female bird.
Head is grey
Eyes are brown
Bill is grey
Legs are pink
Throat is grey
Back is grey

Feeding Habits
This bird forages for food on the ground

This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten .

The Columba delegorguei forages mainly on the ground or at the base of trees, and low down in the shrubs eating mostly fruits and seeds.

Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits
The nest is built high up in the tree canopy and is protected from predators by branches and the dense green foligae.

The bird is at home in riverine forests and close to water bodies such as lakes, dams and streams

This bird is very common in most of the Southern African Forests

The bird is an urban dweller as well, being at home in parks, gardens and in old vacated buildings

Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally
The Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild.



Information taken from:
Birds in SA: www.birdsinsa.com/birds/columbadelegorguei.htm
Posted at 4:58AM, 24 June 2008 PDT (permalink)