Luzon Bleeding-Heart Dove

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.

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