Birds · Columbiformes · Columbidae

Laurel Pigeon

Columba junoniae

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

The laurel pigeon is one of the two pigeons endemic to the Canarian laurel forest, along with Bolle's pigeon. It is recognised by its long tail with a broad pale terminal band and by the wine-coloured tone of its breast. It feeds almost exclusively on the fruits of the trees of the monteverde, the Canarian laurel-forest belt, above all the til and the viñátigo, and is their chief seed disperser. It was on the brink of extinction in the middle of the twentieth century and has recovered with the protection of the laurel forest.

Weight

350 g – 450 g

Size

37 cm – 38 cm

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

Temperate forestMountainIslandsHerbivore Diurnal In pairs Near Threatened Bird Temperate forest Mountain Islands

1countries 3parks11same family

Fun facts

Together with Bolle's pigeon, it is the chief seed disperser of the laurel forest: without the two of them, several trees endemic to the Canarian laurel-forest belt would lose their means of spreading over distance.
Both Canarian pigeons are relicts of the subtropical forests that covered the Mediterranean basin millions of years ago and that survive only in Macaronesia.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Laurel forest and laurel-clad ravines of the western Canary Islands
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 19 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 1 egg

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/