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Pigeon and Dove (kabutar and ghughu)
plump and rounded-bodied birds of the family Columbidae, order Columbiformes.
Their flight is swift and powerful, short and direct. Sexes alike in most
species. Often fly long distance for fruits, seeds, grains buds, drupes
etc. as food. Nests look like sketchy platforms of a few sticks in trees,
on edges or in holes in cliffs etc. Eggs are normally two. Incubation
and care of young by both sexes. Initially the nestlings are fed on a
secretion of the parent's crop known as 'pigeon's milk'.
They have booming calls or mellow musical whistles. The common
rock dove was domesticated some 5,000 years ago. The homing instinct
of some domestic breeds extensively exploited for carrying messages
prior to the advent of wireless telegraphy and even during the
two World Wars.
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Pigeon |
Courtesy: Amanul
Huq |
The family Columbidae has 289 species worldwide, 30 in
Indian sub-continent. In Bangladesh there are 17 species, of which 2 are
migratory. The resident species are Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Pale-capped Pigeon (C. punicea),
Green Imperial Pigeon (Ducula aenea), Mountain Imperial Pigeon
(D. badia), Barred Cuckoo Dove (Macropygia unchall), Spotted
Dove (Streptopelia chinensis), Eurasian Collared Dove (S. decaocto),
Laughing Dove (S. senegalensis), Red Collared Dove (S. tranquebarica),
Pin-tailed Green Pigeon (Treron apicauda), Orange-breasted Green
Pigeon (T. bicincta), Thick-billed Green Pigeon (T. curvirostra),
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon (T. phoenicoptera), and Pompadour Green
Pigeon (T. pompadora). The migratory species are Oriental Turtle
Dove (S. orientalis) and Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon (T. sphenura).
Green pigeon (harial) pigeon like birds belonging to the family Columbidae, order Columbiformes. The order also includes doves, and other pigeons. There are 140 species of pigeons worldwide. Bangladesh has 10 species, of which 6 are green pigeons. Of the six green pigeons, one is migratory (Table). Of the five resident green pigeons, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon is critically endangered.
Table Green pigeons of Bangladesh
(Aves,
Columbiformes: Columbidae)
| Scientific name
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English
name and brief identification note
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Local name
|
Distribution
|
| Treron apicauda |
Pin-tailed
Green Pigeon; size about 42 cm; yellowish green with a long pin pointed
tail and two distinct yellow bars on the black wings. |
Harial/Harikol
|
NE,
MEF |
| Treron bicincta |
Orange-breasted
Green Pigeon; size about 30 cm; orange breast bounded by a band in the
male; cinnamon under tail coverts. Tail slate grey with black band.
|
Harial/Harikol
|
NE,
MEF |
| Treron curvirostra |
Thick-billed
Green Pigeon; size about 28 cm; chestnut maroon mantle; grey- and
olive-green tail and a prominent yellow wing-bar.
|
--- |
NE,
C in forests & woodlands
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| Treron phoenicoptera |
Yellow-footed
Green Pigeon
[Green
Pigeon]; size about 35 cm; lilac patch on shoulder; yellow legs
diagnostic.
|
Harial/Botkol
|
W |
| Treron pompadora
|
Pompadour
Green Pigeon or Grey-fronted Green Pigeon; size about 30 cm. look like
green pigeon but with red legs.
|
Chhoto Harial
|
W |
| Migratory species |
|
|
|
| Treron sphenura |
Wedge-tailed
Green Pigeon/Kokla; size about 35 cm; tail wedge shaped; breast orange
pink. |
Harial |
MEF |
Distribution code: C - Central. NE
- North-East, MEF - Mixed Evergreen Forest. |
[Md Khalilur Rahman]
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