Cameroon Pigeon Columba sjostedti Scientific name definitions

33–37 cm. Differs from C. arquatrix in that entire head is uniform bluish grey; white spotting profuse on breast , and spots on belly larger; bill red basally, yellow for rest of length; iris yellowish, no bare orbital skin; legs dark purple. Sexes alike. Juvenile differs from that of C. arquatrix in having breast and belly more heavily spotted with soft white; less grey on nape.

Inhabits dense misty montane forests and gullies with forest from 1000 m up to 2500 m; on Mt Cameroon, occupies this altitude range, where forest merges into elfin zone with tree-ferns. In Gashaka-Gumti National Park (CE Nigeria), occurs in gallery mist forest, up to 2500m.

Resident. May cover notable distances when searching for food.

Known to eat fruit with watery pulp and hard seeds. No further information.

Voice poorly documented; described as a deep, drawn-out growl followed by a quavering series of low, muffled coos and a bleating sound in display flight (1 Borrow, N. and Demey, R. (2004). Birds of Western Africa. Christopher Helm, London. Close ), suggesting voice is similar to that of C. arquatrix.

One nest found in May was made of criss-crossed twigs placed 8 m high in a tree in a forest clearing; this nest contained a single white egg.

Not globally threatened. Despite restricted range, few precise details available. Abundant in Mar in Gashaka-Gumti National Park, and not uncommon in flocks of up to 10 birds on Obudu Plateau. Habitat destruction has been fairly intensive on S slopes of Mt Cameroon; still apparently quite common on Mt Oku, although habitat has been severely damaged.