Yellow-eyed Pigeon

Columba eversmanni (Bonaparte, 1856)

2012-05-05 Ile river holm, Almaty oblast.	© Askar Isabekov

Description

Adult Pale-backed Pigeon is bluish-grey with heavy brownish tinge on fore-back and wing coverts. Upper- and undertail are much darker than main color. Rear-back and rump are very pale, laight-grey, sometimes almost white. Crown and beast are with dark-pinkish tinge; flanks and rear part of neck are with green metallic gloss, in some positions this gloss is purple. Primaries are black-brownish with pale-grey base part of inner web; secondaries are pale-grey with dark tips; underwing coverts and axillaries are pale-grey or white. Two dark broken wing-bars are formed by two rows of black spots. Tail feathers are dark-grey terminal darkened and almost black in tip. Bill is dark-grey in base and greenish-yellow in tip. Legs are reddish or yellowish. Eyes are yellow. In field Pale-backed Pigeon is similar to Rock Pigeon because both show white rump in flight. From Stock Dove Pale-backed Pigeon is distinguished by this white rump. Young birds don't have metallic gloss; all its plumage is dimmer and browner than in adults. Sizes: wing 190-210, tail 95-105, tarsus 22-28, bill 15-20 mm.

Distribution

Pale-backed Pigeon breeds and occurs on migration in southern and south-eastern Kazakhstan, in north to lower reaches of Syrdarya, Sarysu valley at ravine Aksay, Southern Trans-Balkhash area and Zaysan depression. Two birds recorded at early May 2003 in Karatal valley. In 31 May 2002 one bird in Tarbagatay, but breeding not proved (Berezovikov, Levin, 2002d). In 18-19 July 1947 several birds recorded on Mangyshlak. Numbers of Pale-backed Pigeons is in a trice decreased in 1973-1974 when its large breeding area was disappeared after establishing of Kapchagay reservoir. To recent time only few Pigeons were recorded at Chokpak pass in autumn. But in April 30 2001 on Bakanas - Akkol road 20 Pale-backed Pigeons and three Stock Doves recorded on poles.

Biology

Pale-backed Pigeon is rare breeding migrant. It inhabits Asiatic poplar groves and riparian forests; or clay precipices and old grave monuments on plain. On migration Pale-backed Pigeon occurs in open habitat, stubble fields and man-made forests. It arrives in April in flocks of up to dozen birds. On Chokpak Pass on spring migration Pigeons were caught from 24 March to 19 May. Pale-backed Pigeon breeds in separate pairs or loose colonies up to 15-20 pairs. Nests is built in tree or precipices hole. Clutches of 2 eggs founded from May till mid-July. Both parents incubate clutch and feed juveniles. Two broods per season, repeated breeding after losing of first nest is not rare. Fledglings were recorded untill beginning of September. Autumn migration begins in August, Pale-backed Pigeons fly in flocks of 20-50 individuals. Adults and juveniles migrate in the same flocks. On Chokpak Pass on autumn migration Pale-backed Pigeons were caught from 28 August till 1 November.

References

"Птицы Казахстана" том 2. "Наука". Алма-Ата, 1962. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999.
Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005.