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The Galápagos dove (''Zenaida galapagoensis'') is a species of
bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...
in the family
Columbidae Columbidae is a bird Family (biology), family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the Order (biology), order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with small heads, relatively short necks and slender bills that in ...
. It is
endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
to the
Galápagos Islands The Galápagos Islands () are an archipelago of volcanic islands in the Eastern Pacific, located around the equator, west of the mainland of South America. They form the Galápagos Province of the Republic of Ecuador, with a population of sli ...
. It is fairly common and is found in a wide range of open and semi-open habitats, especially in the arid lowlands of the archipelago.


Taxonomy and systematics

Two subspecies exist: * ''Zenaida galapagoensis galapagoensis'' (
Gould Gould may refer to: People * Gould (name), a surname Places United States * Gould, Arkansas, a city * Gould, Colorado, an unincorporated community * Gould, Ohio, an unincorporated community * Gould, Oklahoma, a town * Gould, West Virginia, an ...
, 1839)
– the
nominate Nomination is part of the process of selecting a candidate for either election to a public office, or the bestowing of an honor or award. A collection of nominees narrowed from the full list of candidates is a short list. Political office In th ...
subspecies. Found on the major islands of the Galapagos, with the exception of
Darwin Island Darwin Island () is an isolated northern member of the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, the uppermost extent of an Volcano#Extinct, extinct volcano. It has an area of and reaches height above mean sea level, above sea level. Visits to the i ...
and
Wolf Island Wolf Island () is a small island in the northern Galápagos Islands. It has an area of and a maximum altitude of above sea level. The island is remote from the main archipelago and has no permanent population. The Galápagos National Park does ...
. * ''Zenaida galapagoensis exsul'' ( Swarth, 1931) – Slightly larger and darker than ''Z. g. galapagoensis.'' Found only on Darwin Island and Wolf Island.'' Despite the geographic isolation of the bird on different islands, there is significant
gene flow In population genetics, gene flow (also known as migration and allele flow) is the transfer of genetic variation, genetic material from one population to another. If the rate of gene flow is high enough, then two populations will have equivalent ...
between the different island populations, owing to frequent migration between islands. This has not entirely prevented the formation of subspecies however, as environmental factors such as wind currents, distance between islands, and even ocean currents affect where birds travel. Yet their impressive flight ability has ensured that the species remains fairly homogenous across the islands, unlike the
Galapagos hawk The Galápagos hawk (''Buteo galapagoensis'') is a large hawk endemic to most of the Galápagos Islands. Description The Galapágos hawk is similar in size to the red-tailed hawk (''Buteo jamaicensis'') and the Swainson's hawk (''Buteo swains ...
(which has significant variations in size by island), or the intense speciation found in the less mobile
Darwin's finches Darwin's finches (also known as the Galápagos finches) are a group of about 18 species of passerine birds. They are well known for being a classic example of adaptive radiation and for their remarkable diversity in beak form and function. They ...
. It is also possible that the dove's omnivorous diet has prevented greater specialization. The presence of humans may be prompting population genetic changes to the populations on
San Cristóbal Island San Cristóbal Island (), also known as Chatham Island, is the easternmost island in the Galápagos archipelago, as well as one of the oldest geologically. It is administratively part of San Cristóbal Canton, Ecuador. Names ''San Crist� ...
and
Santa Cruz Island Santa Cruz Island (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Isla Santa Cruz'', Chumashan languages, Chumash: ''Limuw'') is located off the southwestern coast of Ventura, California, United States. It is the largest island in California and largest of the ei ...
, which has led to decreased
allelic An allele is a variant of the sequence of nucleotides at a particular location, or locus, on a DNA molecule. Alleles can differ at a single position through single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), but they can also have insertions and deletions ...
diversity.


Description

The Galápagos dove grows long and weighs in at . The long black bill is slightly curved downwards. The feet and legs are reddish with some purple. A boldly marked bird, the Galápagos dove has dark reddish-brown upperparts, a pinkish neck and breast, a buff-coloured belly, and brown wings, streaked with white and black. The skin around the eye is deep blue with a black border. The eye itself is brown. An iridescent path is found on the side of the neck. The
scapular feathers The following is a list of terms used in bird topography: Plumage features * Glossary_of_bird_terms#B, Back * Abdomen#Vertabrates, Belly * Breast * Cheek * Chin * Crest (feathers), Crest * Crown (anatomy), Crown * Crown patch * Ear-coverts * ...
and the
wing-coverts A covert feather or tectrix on a bird is one of a set of feathers, called coverts (or ''tectrices''), which cover other feathers. The coverts help to smooth airflow over the wings and tail. Ear coverts The ear coverts are small feathers behind t ...
are black with a white stripe in the middle running down the length; this makes the wings appear streaked. The underparts of the wings are grey to blue. The central tail feathers are brown and the outers are grey. Females are quite similar to the males, but are smaller as is the size of their iridescent patch. They also have darker back, wings, and tail.


Distribution and habitat

They inhabit rocky lowlands, scattered trees, bushes, and cacti.


Behavior and ecology


Breeding and nesting

When their nests are in danger, the doves will pretend to be hurt or injured and lure the predator away from its nest. Most Galápagos dove nest are built on the ground, often under lava overhangs, or in old
mockingbird Mockingbirds are a group of New World passerine birds from the family (biology), family Mimidae. They are best known for the habit of some species Mimicry, mimicking the songs of other birds and the sounds of insects and amphibians, often loudly ...
nests in the cacti. A typical clutch consists of two eggs. Breeding begins three to five weeks after the beginning of the wet season, with up to three clutches a year.


Feeding

The long downward curved beaks on the Galápagos dove helps it feed mostly on seeds and fruits from the ground. Very reluctant to fly, it will only do so as a last resort. Galápagos doves spend most of their time on the ground searching for food, mainly feeding off seeds, caterpillars, and ''
Opuntia ''Opuntia'', commonly called the prickly pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae, many known for their flavorful fruit and showy flowers. Cacti are native to the Americas, and are well adapted to arid clima ...
'' cactus flowers and pulp. On islands where bees are absent, the Opuntia cacti have evolved softer spines. This may allow birds, including the dove, better access to the flowers, with bird activity serving to pollinate the flowers. The doves mostly crush seeds before eating them, but ingest some seeds whole, some of which survive digestion making the bird a source of plant distribution in the Galapagos.


Survival

As an island endemic species, Galapagos doves are at high risk from introduced diseases and predators. Introduced diseases include ''
Trichomonas gallinae ''Trichomonas gallinae'' is a cosmopolitan parasite of birds including finches, pigeons, doves, turkeys, chickens, parrots, and raptors (hawks, golden eagle, etc.). The condition in birds of prey is called frounce. It is believed to be an ancien ...
'' (perhaps spread from
Rock dove The rock dove (''Columba livia''), also sometimes known as "rock pigeon" or "common pigeon", is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). In common usage, it is often simply referred to as the "pigeon", although the rock dov ...
s or Eared doves from the mainland), and ''
Haemoproteus ''Haemoproteus'' is a genus of alveolates that are parasitic in birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Its name is derived from Greek: ''haima'' 'blood' and ''Proteus'', a sea god that had the power to assume various shapes. The name ''Haemoproteus'' ...
'' malaria (which was found in more than 85% of birds on
Española Island Española or Espanola Island () is the most southerly of the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, about a 10 to 12-hour trip by boat from Santa Cruz. Names ''Española'', Spanish for "Little Spain", is named for Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea ...
). ''
Chlamydia psittaci ''Chlamydia psittaci'' is a lethal intracellular bacterial species that may cause endemic avian chlamydiosis, epizootic outbreaks in other mammals, and respiratory psittacosis in humans. Potential hosts include feral birds and domesticated po ...
'' is also a threat. Introduced diseases may also spread from the Galapagos dove to other species in the archipelago ecosystem, such as lice which can spread to
Galapagos hawk The Galápagos hawk (''Buteo galapagoensis'') is a large hawk endemic to most of the Galápagos Islands. Description The Galapágos hawk is similar in size to the red-tailed hawk (''Buteo jamaicensis'') and the Swainson's hawk (''Buteo swains ...
s when the doves are preyed upon. The lice then serve as
disease vectors In epidemiology, a disease vector is any living agent that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen such as a parasite or microbe, to another living organism. Agents regarded as vectors are mostly blood-sucking ( hematophagous) arthropods such ...
.


Relationship with humans

Galápagos doves present an example of how a species adapts when mankind interacts with the species and its environment. The 1685 Galapagos Island expedition by the British privateers is where the first interaction of Galápagos doves and humans took place. The Galápagos dove, like many animals in Galápagos, is extremely tame. When the British sailors first arrived, these doves showed no fear, coming in flocks, which made them easy hunting targets. The doves would even sit on the heads and shoulders of the sailors. However, the birds eventually adapted by learning to avoid human interaction.


Status

In the mid to late 1600s, Galápagos doves began to be hunted by sailors. Extensive human depredations continued at least into the 1960s, but the doves are now most threatened by feral cats. Other threats are diseases, pollution, and habitat degradation.


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q254276
Galápagos dove The Galápagos dove (''Zenaida galapagoensis'') is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. It is fairly common and is found in a wide range of open and semi-open habitats, especially in the arid lowlan ...
Endemic birds of the Galápagos Islands
Galápagos dove The Galápagos dove (''Zenaida galapagoensis'') is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. It is fairly common and is found in a wide range of open and semi-open habitats, especially in the arid lowlan ...
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot