Columba guinea (Speckled pigeon, Rock pigeon)

Bosduif [Afrikaans]; Kransduif [Afrikaans]; Ivukuthu [Xhosa]; iJuba (also applied to Eastern bronze-naped pigeon), iVukuthu [Zulu]; Haifoko [Kwangali]; Leeba (generic term for pigeon or dove), Lehoboi, Leeba-la-thaba [South Sotho]; Leeba (generic term for pigeon or dove), Leebarope, Letseba [Tswana]; Gespikkelde duif [Dutch]; Pigeon roussard [French]; Guineataube [German]; Pombo-malhado [Portuguese]

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Teleostomi (teleost fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class: Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia (terrestrial vertebrates) > Tetrapoda (four-legged vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota > Reptilia (reptiles) > Romeriida > Diapsida > Archosauromorpha > Archosauria > Dinosauria (dinosaurs) > Saurischia > Theropoda (bipedal predatory dinosaurs) > Coelurosauria > Maniraptora > Aves (birds) > Order: Columbiformes > Family: Columbidae > Genus: Columba

Speckled pigeon, West Coast Fossil Park, Western Cape, South Africa. [photo H. Robertson, Iziko ©]	Speckled pigeon, Kleinmond, Western Cape, South Africa. [photo Duncan Robertson ©]

The Speckled pigeon is common in many places in southern Africa, especially in South Africa. It usually lives in rocky, mountainous areas, but can also be found in buildings and gardens. It feeds mostly on seeds, rarely eating small fruits and flowers. The nest is usually placed on ledges, gullies or buildings, and is built by the female, with the male collecting the material. It lays 1-3 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes. The chicks are brooded for the first 6 days of their lives, after which brooding ceases. The nestling period is highly variable with different regions, full range 21-37 days.

Distribution and habitat

Occurs from Senegal to Ethiopia south to Tanzania, with a separate population in south-western Angola and southern Africa. With in southern Africa it is common in western and central Namibia, southern Botswana, Zimbabwe (marginally extending into Mozambique), Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa. It generally prefers rocky areas with mountains, cliffs and gorges, but  it has recently taken to urban and rural buildings, where it often roosts and nests.

Predators and parasites

• Predators
  • Falco biarmicus (Lanner falcon) 
  • Falco peregrinus (Peregrine falcon)
  • Aquila verreauxii (Verreauxs' eagle, Black eagle)
  • Circus ranivorus (African marsh-harrier) 
  • Bubo capensis (Cape eagle-owl) 

Food 

Feeds mainly on seeds, rarely eating fruits and leaves. It typically forages on the ground, usually on farmland, lawns or roads. The following food items have been recorded in its diet:

• Plants
  • seeds
    • grasses
      • Jagopyrum esculentum (Wild buckwheat)
      • Tribulus terrestris (Devil thorn)
      • Amaranthus (Pigweeds)
    • crops
      • sunflowers
      • wheat
      • sorghum
      • maize
      • groundnuts
    • Arctotheca nivea (Sea-pumpkin)
  • fruits
    • Jatropha zeyheri (Spurge)
    • Ficus (Wild figs
  • flowers
    • Cynodon dactylon (Lawn grass)
    • Poa annua (Lawn grass)
  • leaves of Silene bellidoides (Wild tobacco)
  • acorns of Quercus robur (European oak)

Breeding

• It makes its own nest, with the male collecting material and giving it to the female, who then puts it into the nest. This consists of a collection of twigs, grass, herbs and sometimes wire, shotgun shells and nails, usually placed on ledges of cliffs, in caves, gullies or often in buildings.
• It lays 1-3 eggs, at any time of year.
• Incubation is done by both parents for about 14-16 days, changing shifts at mid-morning and late afternoon.
• The chicks are brooded for the first six days of their lives, after which brooding ceases. The nestling period is highly variable with different regions, ranging from 21-37 days.

Threats

Not threatened, in fact quite common across southern Africa. It has adapted very well to living with humans, as it often nests and roosts in buildings.

References

• Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ and Ryan PG 2005. Roberts - Birds of southern Africa, VIIth ed. The Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town.