Laurel Pigeon

Laurel Pigeon
: Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Columbiformes : Columbidae : Columba : junoniae
Binomial name
Columba junoniae (Hartert, 1916)

The Laurel Pigeon (Columba junoniae) is a member of the family Columbidae, doves and pigeons, which is endemic to the Canary Islands.

A rare resident breeder in the mountain laurel forest zone, the Laurel Pigeon builds a stick nest in a tree. There it lays one white egg.

At 40-43 cm, a Laurel Pigeon looks like a very dark Wood Pigeon. It is a basically dark brown bird, with a dark pink breast. The lack of any white markings, together with its darker markings, distinguish it from the other species.

Brown, rather than dark grey plumage, and the lack of dark bands on the grey tail distinguish it from the other pigeon endemic to the Canary Islands, Bolle's Pigeon.

A Laurel Pigeon's flight is quick and performed by regular beats. An occasional sharp flick of the wings is characteristic of pigeons in general. Often, the bird takes off with a loud clattering.

The call is a hoarse hiccuped cooing.