Bolle's Pigeon Columba bollii Scientific name definitions

35–37 cm; wingspan 65–68 cm. Slim-bodied and large-tailed . Similar to <em>C. trocaz</em> , but silvery grey neck area of latter replaced by a small coppery brown patch on each side of neck , with pale median tailband instead of broad pale terminal tips (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ); iris darker yellow; legs and feet red . Sexes alike. Juvenile generally duller, more sepia-brown above, lacking iridescence, with buff-edged scapulars and wing-coverts, underparts more rufous-brown, and has black bill, brownish-red legs and feet (2 Clarke, T. (2006). Birds of the Atlantic Islands. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Closely related to C. trocaz, with which it is sometimes considered conspecific (see that species) (3 Dourado, C. G., M. A. Duarte, A. R. Grosso, C. Bastos-Silveira, P. Marrero, P. Oliveira, O. S. Paulo, and D. Dias (2014). Phylogenetic origin of the endemic pigeons from Madeira (Columba trocaz) and Azores Islands (Columba palumbus azorica). Journal of Ornithology 155(1):71–82. Close ). Also related to C. palumbus, C. unicincta and probably C. junoniae. Monotypic.

W Canary Is, occurring on La Palma, Gomera, Tenerife and El Hierro; in past, perhaps also on Gran Canaria (4 BirdLife International (2013). IUCN Red List for birds. URL: http://www.birdlife.org (download Aug 2013). Close ), where now extinct.

Dense laurel forests (with Lauraceae, Ericaceae and Rosaceae species, especially Laurus azorica and Ocotea foetens dominant) (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ) in mountainous areas, especially in ravines; also in heath of Myrica faya and Erica arborea, and sometimes in rather open areas, e.g. cultivation, occasionally mixed pine woods (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ). Mainly in uplands, especially in areas exposed to north-east trade winds, at 1300–1500 m on Tenerife, but also occurs down to 600 m on that island (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ). Retires to deep shade  of laurel trees in the heat of the day.

In late summer, flies to lower altitudes to feed on ripe cereals and fruit.

Mostly feeds on fruit but leaves, buds and shoots are also seasonally important. It also takes grain and  also invertebrates. The summer diet consists mostly of Persea indica, Rhamnus glandulosa, Picconia excelsa, Apollonias barbusana, Laurus azorica, Ocotea foetens (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ) and Myrica faya; winter diet mostly comprises Laurus, Myrica, Rhamnus and Ilex canariensis. A comparative study of food residues in faeces of this species and the sympatric White-tailed Laurel-pigeon Columba junoniae suggests that laurel fruits comprise a more significant fraction of the diet of the present species than of the latter (5 Nogales, M. and Marrero, P. (2013). Ecología alimentaria de las palomas endemicas de Canarias en los bosques de laurisilva. Quercus. Extra: 13. Close ). Will gather in concentrations of up to 50 birds (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ) at a fruiting tree; plucks berries from trees but also feeds on the ground, including on cabbages and other crops when berries are in short supply (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ).

Advertising call a very faint and low-pitched, gruff-sounding rhythmic phrase with only short pauses between phrases, thus often sounding like a continuous series of notes. Phrase typically comprises four notes, e.g. “rrruh-rrruh-rruuhr-huh!...rrruh-rrruh-rruuhr-huh!...”. Also a gruff-sounding double-noted “owrrrh-rhrrrh” repeated at longer intervals, somewhat similar to homologous vocalization of C. palumbus.

Breeds Jan–Sept, perhaps with peak in Feb–May (6 Hernández, M. A., and C. González (1996). The Canary Islands’ Laurel Pigeons. Birding World 9(6):226–227. Close ) and may have 2–3 broods (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ). Territorial displays include shallow, repeated glides with wing-clapping followed by long circular glides to a perch (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ). Flimsy nest of sticks (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ), typically placed the most abundant local trees, with 79% of 68 nests being placed in four species, namely in tree heath (Erica arborea, 34%), Laurus azorica (19%), Ilex canariensis (16%), Myrica faya (10%) (7 Hernández, M. A., A. Martín, and M. Nogales (1999). Breeding success and predation on artificial nests of the endemic pigeons Bolle’s Laurel Pigeon Columba bollii and White-tailed Laurel Pigeon Columba junoniae in the laurel forest of Tenerife (Canary Islands). Ibis 141(1):52–59. Close ), but Viburnum and Erica scoparia (2 Clarke, T. (2006). Birds of the Atlantic Islands. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) also frequently recorded, 1·75–15 m (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ) above the ground (mainly 6–8 m up), very rarely reported on ground (2 Clarke, T. (2006). Birds of the Atlantic Islands. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Lays one white (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ) egg; in captivity, incubation 18–19 days; fledging period c. 30–35 days, although the young apparently may remain dependent on the adults for some time after this (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ). Black rats (Rattus rattus) are significant predators of nests, especially later in the year, with predation being the most important cause of nest failure (86%) on Tenerife (7 Hernández, M. A., A. Martín, and M. Nogales (1999). Breeding success and predation on artificial nests of the endemic pigeons Bolle’s Laurel Pigeon Columba bollii and White-tailed Laurel Pigeon Columba junoniae in the laurel forest of Tenerife (Canary Islands). Ibis 141(1):52–59. Close ), where in one study based at four sites overall nesting success was 47% (incubation 59% and nestlings 80%) (7 Hernández, M. A., A. Martín, and M. Nogales (1999). Breeding success and predation on artificial nests of the endemic pigeons Bolle’s Laurel Pigeon Columba bollii and White-tailed Laurel Pigeon Columba junoniae in the laurel forest of Tenerife (Canary Islands). Ibis 141(1):52–59. Close ). Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is an indigenous predator of young birds (7 Hernández, M. A., A. Martín, and M. Nogales (1999). Breeding success and predation on artificial nests of the endemic pigeons Bolle’s Laurel Pigeon Columba bollii and White-tailed Laurel Pigeon Columba junoniae in the laurel forest of Tenerife (Canary Islands). Ibis 141(1):52–59. Close ).

Not globally threatened. Previously considered Vulnerable and subsequently Near Threatened (8 Demey, R., G. M. Kirwan, and P. Lack (2011). Africa Round-up. Category changes of threatened birds. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 18(2):138. Close ). Extinct on Gran Canaria where it was last recorded in 1889 and was lost due to hunting and habitat destruction (1 Gibbs, D., E. Barnes, and J. Cox (2001). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ); has been in decline since mid-15th century, and range now reduced to c.35–40% of original as result of habitat destruction. A census in 1994 estimated total of c. 1700 birds, with 350–400 birds on Tenerife, 250–300 on La Palma, over 1000 on Gomera, and as few as 10–15 on El Hierro, but total population now estimated at 3300–13,000 mature individuals within an overall range of 3400 km², including 2000 on Tenerife, > 3000 on La Palma, > 1000 on La Gomera (the overwhelming majority in Garajonay National Park) and smaller numbers on El Hierro (where occupies the whole of Golfo and Sabinosa). Deforestation, inappropriate forest management, illegal hunting and introduced predators (cats, rats) are thought to be serious threats to the survival of this species, with abundance declining in areas dissected by roads (9 Delgado, J. D., J. R. Arévalo, and J. M. Fernández-Palacios (2008). Bird communities in two oceanic island forests fragmented by roads on Tenerife, Canary Islands. Ostrich 79(2):219–226. Close ); apparently more susceptible to habitat destruction than C. junoniae. Poaching with guns and traps continues at a rather high level on Tenerife and Gomera. Populations require close monitoring, and stricter protection.