Picazuro Pigeon Patagioenas picazuro Scientific name definitions

The Picazuro Pigeon is a resident of gallery forest and grassland from central Brazil to Argentina.  A large, handsomely colored pigeon, the Pizcuro Pigeon has a pinkish purple head, nape and breast, bluish gray flanks and tail coverts, shiny black scaled feathers on the neck, and white bands on the wings.  The foraging habits of this pigeon are poorly known, but the diet includes seeds, buds, berries, leaves and some insects. A study in Mato Grosso, Brazil found that Picazuro Pigeons migrate seasonally to the Paraguayan Chaco where flocks of 200 or more individuals were encountered.

34 cm; 402 g. Head , nape and upper breast pinkish purple merging to paler on lower breast and belly; flanks, uppertail- and undertail-coverts and underwing dark bluish grey; feathers of back , sides of neck and upper mantle with iridescent black edges forming scaly effect, individual feathers with subterminal bands of greenish silver; lower mantle, inner secondaries and inner wing-coverts dull brown with paler edges to feathers; white line evident on closed wing due to white-fringed bluish grey feathers on outer greater and median coverts, appearing as white band on open wing ; tail dark blue-grey with inconspicuous black terminal band; iris varies from orange to red, with narrow grey inner ring; orbital skin red suffused with powdery white; cere white, bill dark red basally with yellow tip; legs dark red. Female paler and duller, greyish on top of head and purple of lower breast and underparts of male replaced by dull buffish. Juvenile similar to female but duller and paler with spotting on back of neck less conspicuous. Race marginalis  smaller, with paler upperparts, especially rump and uppertail-coverts; broader white edging to wing-coverts; rosy tinge below.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Woodland, groves and gallery forest; also dry caatinga vegetation of NE Brazil, and cultivation in Argentina. Readily invades deforested areas, and has begun to exploit urban areas. Frequently on ground.

Ringing studies in Poconé, Mato Grosso (WC Brazil), have revealed that birds migrate to the Paraguayan Chaco. Flocks of up to 200 birds or more have been recorded.

Poorly known. Takes seeds , buds, berries and young leaves; also some insects. Feeds on the ground  as well as in trees.

Song  is a rhythmic series of monotonous coos, typically starting with a single note followed by triple notes repeated: "rwhoooh...puh-whu-whooo...puh-whu-whooo..puh-whu-whooo...". Call, a repeated bisyllable note "rrrrr-whuh", the first syllable very burry.

Recorded in Oct and Dec in S Brazil; all year round in Argentina. Builds typical pigeon nest in tree or shrub. Usually only 1 (white) egg per clutch, but clutches of 2 have been reported. No further information available.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Few data available, but species reported to be expanding its already extensive range in Brazil and Argentina, in conjunction with continuing deforestation; common in most of range in Argentina. First record in Santa Cruz province, S Argentina, in 2013 (1 Roesler, I., Imberti, S., Casañas, H.E., Hernández, P.M., Klavins, J.M. and Pagano, L.G. (2014). Noteworthy records and natural history comments on rare and threatened bird species from Santa Cruz province, Patagonia, Argentina. Rev. Bras. Orn. 22(2): 189–200. Close ). First record in Chile, c. San Pedro de Atacama, also in 2013 (2 Barros, R., Schmitt, F. y la red de observadores de aves (2015). Resumen de avistamientos septiembre 2013 – febrero 2014. La Chiricoca. 19: 45–57. In Spanish. Close ). Reported to be poisoned as a crop pest in parts of Brazil, though full extent of this persecution not established.