Columba bollii
Bolle's Pigeon (Columba bollii), an endemic jewel of the Canary Islands, is a medium-sized, robust pigeon, typically measuring 37-40 cm (14.5-15.7 inches) in length with a wingspan of 68-70 cm. Its plumage is predominantly a uniform sooty grey, appearing almost black in dim light, often with a subtle purplish-green iridescent sheen on the neck and mantle, making it distinct from its paler relatives. Key identification features include its striking red bill with a pale tip, contrasting with eq...
This species exclusively inhabits the dense, humid evergreen laurel forests (Laurisilva) of the Canary Islands, primarily at mid-altitudes between 400 and 1200 meters.
The diet consists almost exclusively of fruits, primarily the large berries of various laurel tree species found in its native Laurisilva habitat, supplemented with some seeds and tender leaves. It forages arboreally, plucking fruits directly from trees.
Bolle's Pigeon is a diurnal species, spending its days foraging high in the canopy and roosting inconspicuously within the densest parts of the laurel forest. Its foraging strategy is arboreal, expertly plucking fruits directly from branches, often descending to lower foliage in search of fallen ...
Bolle's Pigeon is strictly endemic to the western and central Canary Islands, where it maintains resident populations. Its primary strongholds are found on La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, and Tenerife, with a smaller, more vulnerable population on Gran Canaria, where habitat fragmentation is a si...
Least Concern
- Bolle's Pigeon is a living relic, thriving in the same ancient laurel forests that covered much of Southern Europe and North Africa millions of years ago. - Its survival is inextricably linked to the health and preservation of the Laurisilva ecosystem in the Canary Islands. - It is one of two e...