Luzon bleeding-heart
Luzon bleeding-heart | |
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Conservation status | |
![]() Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)[1] | |
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2] | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Columbiformes |
Family: | Columbidae |
Genus: | Gallicolumba |
Species: | G. luzonica |
Binomial name | |
Gallicolumba luzonica (Scopoli, 1786) |
The Luzon bleeding-heart, bleeding-heart dove, bleeding-heart pigeon or punay (Gallicolumba luzonica) is one of a number of species of ground dove in the genus Gallicolumba, know as "bleeding-hearts". The native name in Tagalog is punay. It is also known as paloma de punalada 'stabbed pigeon'. The Luzon bleeding-heart is the species in which the "blood" feature is most pronounced, with the reddish hue extending down the belly, furthering the illusion of blood having run down the bird's breast.
Description
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Luzon_Bleeding-heart_RWD.jpg/220px-Luzon_Bleeding-heart_RWD.jpg)
On its upper surfaces, the Luzon bleeding-heart is slate grey in color, but because of its iridescence, it can appear to be purple, royal blue, or bottle-green with varying lighting conditions. On their wings are black bands, while their belly and under wing areas are buff or chestnut.
As is with most pigeon species, there is little sexual dimorphism; males tend to be larger and have a more pronounced red patch, while in the females it is slightly duller. The body shape is typical of the genus, with a round body, short tail, and long legs.
Distribution
The Luzon bleeding-heart is endemic to the island of Luzon in the Philippines where the locals call it Puñalada. It lives in primary or secondary forests, and can be found at altitudes varying from up to 1400 meters above sea level. They eat seeds, berries and grubs. They are shy and secretive, and very quiet, and rarely leave the ground except when nesting. Unlike the other bleeding-hearts, they usually lay two eggs in each clutch.
Three subspecies of the Luzon bleeding-heart are known: Gallicolumba luzonica luzonica, Gallicolumba luzonica griseolateralis, and Gallicolumba luzonica rubiventris.
Gallicolumba luzonica luzonica is found on the central and southern parts of the island of Luzon, and the neighboring Polillo Islands, while Gallicolumba luzonica griseolateralis is found on the northern part of the island. Gallicolumba luzonica rubiventris has been found exclusively on the island of Catanduanes where a single specimen was collected in 1971; this subspecies is very rare and believed to be near extinction or already extinct.
Conservation status
As of 2016, the Luzon bleeding-heart is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, due to the species being threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation through deforestation for timber extraction and agricultural lands. It is also commonly trapped as a pet for its striking plumage.[1]
References
- ^ a b BirdLife International (2016). "Gallicolumba luzonica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22690979A93297883. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22690979A93297883.en.
- ^ "Appendices". CITES.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
External links
- Detailed account by a fancier who has kept the species in captivity