The São Tomé olive pigeon or maroon pigeon (''Columba thomensis'') is an

endangered species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...

pigeon Columbidae is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with small heads, relatively short necks and slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. ...

which 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 island of

São Tomé São Tomé is the capital and largest city of the Central African island country of São Tomé and Príncipe. Its name is Portuguese for " Saint Thomas". Founded in the 15th century, it is one of Africa's oldest colonial cities. History Álv ...

off the coast of western Africa. It was described by

José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage (2 May 1823 – 3 November 1907) was a Portuguese zoologist, politician, and professor. He served as a professor of zoology and director of the National Museum of Natural History and Science, Lisbon, National Museu ...

in 1888.

Description

The bird is long.

BirdLife International BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats. BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding i ...

Species Factsheet ''Columba thomensis''
accessed 17 January 2019 It has a grayish head, a burgundy body with scattered small white spots, and a bright yellow bill and legs.

Distribution

The olive pigeon occurs in several parts of the island of São Tomé, including the northwest (Chamiço), the central massif (Lagoa Amelia, Zampalma, Nova Ceilão, Bombaim and the valley of Rio Io Grande near Formoso Pequeno), the southwest (valleys of the rivers

Xufexufe Rio Xufexufe is a river in the island of São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe. The river flows southward through the southern part of the Lembá District and empties into the Atlantic Ocean between the beaches of Palma and Pipa, 10 km northwest ...

and Ana Chaves) and in the southeast (west of Água Izé, on Pico Maria Fernandes and north of

São João dos Angolares São João dos Angolares is a small town on the east coast of São Tomé Island in São Tomé and Príncipe. It is the seat of Caué District. Its population is 3,605 (2012).

Conservation and status

The continued survival of the São Tomé olive pigeon depends upon stopping

habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no longer able to support its native species. The organisms once living there have either moved elsewhere, or are dead, leading to a decrease ...

in the remaining lowland rainforest of São Tomé, as does the survival of three other birds: the

São Tomé ibis The São Tomé ibis (''Bostrychia bocagei''), also known as the dwarf olive ibis or the dwarf ibis, is a Critically Endangered, critically endangered bird that is endemism, endemic to São Tomé Island, São Tomé off the western coast of Central ...

, São Tomé oriole, and São Tomé scops owl.Kirby, Alex.
"Many threatened birds 'need help'"

BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...

(March 8, 2004).

Description

Distribution

Conservation and status

References

Further reading