ANIMAL: Luzon Bleeding-Heart Dove Gallicolumba luzonica Type of Animal: Pigeon/Dove Habitat: Forests, forest edge, plantations Location(s): Philippine island of Luzon Appearance: Dark gray w/ light blue-gray forehead, blue-gray/purplish iris, white chest w/ trademark “bleeding heart” patch Food/Diet: Seeds, grains, grubs, worms, fruit, insects, berries Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding from zoos & aviculture Lifestyle: Younger birds can be found in small flocks. Adults live as monogamous pairs. Additional Info: Called: Male-Cock Female-Hen Young-Squab Group-Flock Weight: 5.28-7.04 oz Gestation: 15-18 days Height: 6 in Body Length: 9.84 in Life Span: 15 years in wild, 25 years in captivity Tail Length: 3 in Main predators are raptors, snakes, civets, crocodiles, monkeys, monitor lizards, & pigs. Males very territorial during breeding/nesting season, sometimes killing rival males that stray into territory. Declining due to logging, pet/bird trade, habitat loss, & hunting for meat/feathers. Males coo to attract a female. Once paired, they stay bonded for life. However, they’re quite choosy about mates and pairing attempts in captivity of incompatible birds has sometimes resulted in females being severely injured/killed by males. Often fake injuries in order to lure predators away from nests. Like many pigeon/dove species, they feed young crop milk. Also called bleeding heart pigeon & blood breasted pigeon. Sexually mature at 1.5 years old. They play an important role as seed dispersers. Both parents incubate eggs. They’re active during the day (diurnal). Often breed twice a year. Young have been seen flying as young as 12 days old, even though tailfeathers not fully developed yet. Fun Fact(s): Often resemble chickens when foraging, hence 1st part of latin name Gallicolumba, meaning chicken dove. These birds very shy & secretive in the wild. They only leave the ground to nest. When threatened, they run away rather than fly. There’s a lot more to be learned about these elusive birds.
