Scaled Pigeon (Patagioenas speciosa)

Identification & Behavior: ~34.2 cm (13.4 in). The Scaled Pigeon has the neck, upper back, and underparts heavily scaled. The rest of the body is rufous-brown. The bill is bright red with a pale tip. From a distance, it may look like a Ruddy Pigeon, a Plumbeous Pigeon, or Pale Vented Pigeon. A closer look would reveal the conspicuous scaling.

Status: The Scaled Pigeon is uncommon in the canopy of mature forests, broken canopy, and forest edges. It is known to range up to 1600 m along the foothill of the Andes. It is also rare in the humid and semi-deciduous forest of Tumbes in extreme northwest Peru. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Paloma Escamosa.

Sub-species: Scaled Pigeon (Patagioenas speciosa), (J. F. Gmelin) 1789.

Meaning of Name: Patagioenas: Gr. Patageö= noise, noisy and Oinas= dove. speciosa: L. speciosa, speciosus, species= splendid, beautiful, beauty.

See more of the Family Columbidae