Columba delegorguei
The Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon (Columba delegorguei) is a strikingly beautiful and often elusive forest dweller, named for the iridescent, coppery-bronze patch on the hind-neck of the male. This medium-sized pigeon measures approximately 30-33 cm (12-13 inches) in length, with a robust build typical of forest pigeons. Males exhibit a rich dark slate-grey plumage over most of the body, contrasting sharply with the bright white or creamy patch on the hind-neck and the metallic bronze-green iri...
This species primarily inhabits moist Afromontane evergreen forests, preferring dense canopy cover, and is typically found at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 meters.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of fruits, berries, and occasionally seeds, foraged directly from the canopy of forest trees.
Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeons are predominantly diurnal, spending their active hours foraging high in the forest canopy and roosting discreetly among dense foliage at night. Their foraging strategy centers on plucking fruits directly from trees, often remaining motionless for long periods before d...
The Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon has a fragmented but relatively widespread distribution across eastern and southern Africa. Its breeding range extends from central Kenya, through Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini (Swaziland), south to eastern South Africa. There are two recogni...
Least Concern
- The male's iridescent bronze nape is truly a spectacular sight, but often difficult to observe clearly as the bird stays high in dense forest canopies. - Despite being a pigeon, its shy and elusive nature makes it far less commonly observed than urban pigeon species. - This pigeon plays a vital...