Madagascar Blue-pigeon vs Afep Pigeon

Alectroenas madagascariensis compared with Columba unicincta

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Madagascar Blue-pigeon Afep Pigeon
Scientific Name Alectroenas madagascariensis Columba unicincta
Order Columbiformes Columbiformes
Family Columbidae Columbidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 34.2 cm (13.5 in) 42.2 cm (16.6 in)
Weight 161.5 g (5.70 oz) 401.5 g (14.16 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1 1
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Madagascar Blue-pigeon only

None

Afep Pigeon only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Madagascar Blue-pigeon

Afep Pigeon

Song

Deep, resonant cooing; rich notes with carrying quality through dense humid African forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Madagascar Blue-pigeon

Least Concern

Afep Pigeon

How to Tell Them Apart

Madagascar Blue-pigeon

Afep Pigeon

Plumage

Afep Pigeon: pale gray; white neck gloss; dark flight feathers; large size; Central African rainforest pigeon; pale overall

About These Birds

Madagascar Blue-pigeon

Madagascar Blue-pigeon (Alectroenas madagascariensis), 28 cm. Deep cobalt-blue with bare red facial skin; tail blue-black. Endemic to Madagascar. Inhabits primary humid forest in the east and northwest. Frugivore feeding on figs and forest fruits. Near Threatened; declining with forest loss.

Afep Pigeon

Afep Pigeon (Columba unicincta) — 36–40 cm. Large; dark grey; single narrow black ring on hindneck; pale grey rump. Inhabits canopy of rainforest in West and Central Africa. Frugivore; feeds on forest fruits. Poorly known; an upper-canopy species seldom studied at close range.

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