Afep pigeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Afep pigeon |
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| Genus: |
Columba
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| Species: |
unicincta
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The afep pigeon (Columba unicincta) is a cool bird found in the warm, wet forests of Africa. People also call it the African wood-pigeon or gray wood-pigeon. It belongs to the Columbidae family, which includes all pigeons and doves.
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What is the Afep Pigeon and Where Does it Come From?
Have you ever wondered how animals get their names? The afep pigeon was first described by an American bird expert named John Cassin in 1860. He found a specimen, which is a sample of the bird, near the Ogooué River in Gabon, West Africa.
He gave it the scientific name Columba unicincta. This name is like a secret code! "Columba" means "pigeon" in Latin. The second part, "unicincta," comes from two Latin words: uni- meaning "one," and cinctus meaning "banded." So, its scientific name means "one-banded pigeon." The English name "afep" comes from the Bulu language in Cameroon, where it simply means "pigeon."
What Does the Afep Pigeon Look Like?
Afep pigeons are medium-sized birds. They are about 35 to 36 centimeters (14 inches) long. They weigh between 356 and 490 grams, which is about the same as a can of soup!
Both male and female afep pigeons look very similar.
- They have a gray neck and body.
- Their wings and tail are a darker gray.
- Their throat and belly are white.
- The chest area has a pretty buff-pink color.
- Their eyes and the skin around their eyes are red.
This pigeon also has a loud and clear call. It sounds like "doo doo doo" or "whu whu whu whu-WHU."
Where Do Afep Pigeons Live?
Afep pigeons live in two main areas of the African tropical rainforest. These areas are not connected.
You can find them in countries like:
- Sierra Leone
- Southern Guinea
- Liberia
- Ivory Coast
- Ghana
- South-eastern Nigeria
- Cameroon
- Gabon
- Equatorial Guinea
- Republic of Congo
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Central African Republic
- Uganda
- Angola
How Do Afep Pigeons Live?
What Do Afep Pigeons Eat?
Afep pigeons are mostly vegetarians. They love to eat grains and different kinds of seeds.
How Do Afep Pigeons Have Babies?
Afep pigeons usually have their babies during the second half of the dry season.
- The female pigeon typically lays between 1 and 3 eggs.
- Both mom and dad pigeons work together to take care of their young.
- The eggs hatch after about 14 to 18 days.
- When the chicks are born, their parents feed them a special liquid called crop milk. This is a bit like milk from mammals, but it's made by the pigeons themselves!
- A few days later, the chicks start eating small pieces of solid food.
- They are ready to leave the nest when they are about 20 to 25 days old.
Are Afep Pigeons Safe?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says that the afep pigeon is a species of "least concern." This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing. Their population seems to be stable, and their homes are not broken up into small pieces. Even though we don't know the exact number of these birds, they appear to be doing well!
