Sao Tome Pigeon Columba malherbii Scientific name definitions

28 cm. Like C. iriditorques, but hindneck and upper mantle iridescent green or pink on a slaty background rather than copper-bronze; scapulars, wing-coverts and mantle to uppertail-coverts blackish with greenish sheen; throat , breast and belly grey; vent and undertail-coverts rufous with grey speckling; tail dark grey above, outer rectrices with ochraceous wash notably on inner webs; tail pale ochraceous grey below; iris pale grey; bill grey, pale tipped; legs red. Female similar but underparts darker grey, lower breast and upper belly feathers with fine ochraceous speckling; lower belly, undertail-coverts and vent pale rufous with grey speckling. Juvenile has iridescence of hindneck collar less extensive; forehead pale grey and forecrown pale rufous; upperparts replete with ochraceous or rufous freckles.

Príncipe, São Tomé and Pagalu (Annobón) in Gulf of Guinea.

An inhabitant of deep forest at 400–500 m on Pagalu; on São Tomé and Príncipe, occurs in forests and plantations. On São Tomé is more abundant in human-altered habitats such as shade forests and non-forested areas, and it is not present in high-altitude forests (1 Carvalho, M., Fa, J.E., Rego, F.C., de Lima, R.F., Santos, G. and Palmeirim, J.M. (2015). Factors influencing the distribution and abundance of endemic pigeons on Sao Tome Island (Gulf of Guinea). Bird Conservation International. 25(1): 71–86. Close ).

Resident.

Feeding takes place 3–16 m above ground in the middle stratum of the trees. Observed as single individuals or in groups of up to 7 birds. On São Tomé it feeds on fruits of the shrub Cestrum laevigatum, along hedgerows in agricultural land (1 Carvalho, M., Fa, J.E., Rego, F.C., de Lima, R.F., Santos, G. and Palmeirim, J.M. (2015). Factors influencing the distribution and abundance of endemic pigeons on Sao Tome Island (Gulf of Guinea). Bird Conservation International. 25(1): 71–86. Close ).

Advertising call  consists of two somewhat hoarse hoots followed by a stuttering series of 15–20 notes that become gradually shorter and fade away, “rhuuuw...rhuuw...rhu-tu-tu-tu-tutututu”, very different from C. delegorguei and C. iriditorques both in structure and tonal quality (notes sound much more Streptopelia-like). Also short nasal contact calls while feeding “wuh..wuh..”.

A substantial platform is built 5–12 m above ground level in a tree in secondary forest, Erythrina or plantation cocoa tree.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. On Pagalu very common in 1902 but declined by time of 1959 census; uncommon on Príncipe 80 years ago, but now very common at lower elevations; relatively abundant and widespread on São Tomé at low and medium altitudes, despite heavy hunting pressure (1 Carvalho, M., Fa, J.E., Rego, F.C., de Lima, R.F., Santos, G. and Palmeirim, J.M. (2015). Factors influencing the distribution and abundance of endemic pigeons on Sao Tome Island (Gulf of Guinea). Bird Conservation International. 25(1): 71–86. Close ).