Afep Pigeon vs Santa Cruz Ground Dove

Columba unicincta compared with Pampusana sanctaecrucis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Afep Pigeon Santa Cruz Ground Dove
Scientific Name Columba unicincta Pampusana sanctaecrucis
Order Columbiformes Columbiformes
Family Columbidae Columbidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Endangered
Length
Wingspan 42.2 cm (16.6 in)
Weight 401.5 g (14.16 oz) 165.5 g (5.84 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1 1
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Afep Pigeon only

None

Santa Cruz Ground Dove only

None

Song & Call Comparison

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.

Santa Cruz Ground Dove

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Afep Pigeon

Endangered

Santa Cruz Ground Dove

How to Tell Them Apart

Afep Pigeon

Plumage

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

Santa Cruz Ground Dove

Plumage

Santa Cruz Ground Dove: brown above; pale buff below; bare red orbital skin; Santa Cruz islands endemic; endangered species

About These Birds

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.

Santa Cruz Ground Dove

Small ground dove, 20–23 cm, with brown upperparts, a grey head, and pale buff underparts. Known from the Santa Cruz Islands (Solomon Islands) and Espíritu Santo (Vanuatu). Inhabits dense lowland forest floor. Terrestrial frugivore. Critically Endangered; very few recent records and significant forest loss throughout its range.

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