Flame-breasted fruit dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flame-breasted fruit dove |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ptilinopus
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| Species: |
marchei
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The flame-breasted fruit dove (its scientific name is Ptilinopus marchei) is a beautiful bird that belongs to the Columbidae family, which includes doves and pigeons. You can only find this special bird in the Philippines, especially in the mountains of Luzon island.
It's a pretty big dove, growing up to 42 centimeters long! This makes it the largest fruit dove in the Philippines, almost as big as some Imperial pigeons. You can easily spot it by its bright red "hood" (head), black wings with a red patch, and a super bright, flame-colored chest.
This dove lives in tropical forests, usually high up in the mountains. Sadly, it's facing threats like losing its home, being caught for the pet trade, and being hunted for food. Good news, though: it's against the law in the Philippines to hunt, catch, or keep these doves.
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What Does the Flame-Breasted Fruit Dove Look Like?
This dove is quite large and easy to recognize! It has light gray feathers on its belly and sides of its chest and neck. Its back and cheeks are a sooty, dark color. The most striking part is its chest, which has a bright orange patch that turns dark red underneath. Its head has a lovely pink crown, and there's a pink mark on its flight feathers.
It looks a bit like the Yellow-breasted Fruit-Dove, but the Flame-breasted one has an orange chest instead of yellow, and a dark pink crown. When it sings, it makes a deep sound that goes up and then down, like "oo-woo." When it flies, you can hear its wings clap loudly!
Where Does This Dove Live and How Is It Protected?
The flame-breasted fruit dove lives in lowland and hill forests, as well as mid-mountain forests. You can find it at heights from 450 to 1,500 meters above sea level. Sometimes, it's even seen in very high, mossy mountain forests. These doves need old, untouched forests to survive. They don't do well in forests that have grown back after being cut down.
Why Is This Dove in Danger?
Right now, the flame-breasted fruit dove is listed as a "vulnerable species." This means there are only about 2,500 to 9,999 adult birds left in the wild. They are in danger because:
- Habitat Loss: Their forest homes are being cut down for logging, farming, and mining. For example, the Sierra Madre forest has shrunk by 83% since the 1930s. Even Mount Banahaw is losing land because of quarrying and building for tourism.
- Poaching and Hunting: Some people illegally catch these birds to sell as pets. They have even been seen for sale online! Others hunt them for food.
- Nest Disturbance: Their nests can be disturbed, which makes it hard for them to raise their young.
What Is Being Done to Help?
The good news is that these doves live in several protected areas. However, more needs to be done to keep poachers and loggers out of these places. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) suggests that more studies are needed to find out exactly how many of these birds are left. They also recommend making key habitats, like those on Mt. Cetaceo, Infanta, Quezon, and Mount Polis, officially protected areas. It's also important to make sure laws against hunting and trading these birds are followed strictly.
Under Philippine law RA9147, it is completely illegal to hunt, capture, or keep these birds as pets. Since they are a vulnerable species, breaking this law can lead to serious consequences.
