Tawitawi brown dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tawitawi brown dove |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Phapitreron
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| Species: |
cinereiceps
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The Tawitawi brown dove (Phapitreron cinereiceps) is a special bird. It is also called the dark-eared brown dove. This dove is known for its pretty orange-peach chest. It belongs to the Columbidae family, which includes all doves and pigeons.
This bird is a threatened species. This means its numbers are getting low, and it needs protection. It lives only in the forests of the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines. You can find it on the islands of Tawi-Tawi and Sanga-Sanga.
For a while, scientists thought it was the same as the Mindanao brown dove. They called them both the dark-eared brown dove. But now they know it is a different species. The Tawitawi brown dove faces threats like habitat loss. However, the loss of its home slowed down between 2004 and 2007. Because of this, its status improved from Critically Endangered to Endangered in 2007. This was good news for the dove!
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What Does the Tawitawi Brown Dove Look Like?
This dove is a medium-sized bird. It lives in the lowland forests of Tawi-Tawi Island. It is the only brown dove found there.
The Tawitawi brown dove has dark brown feathers on its back. Its head is gray. You might see a purple shimmer on the back of its neck. Its chest and belly are a reddish-brown color. The feathers under its tail are white, and the tip of its tail is light gray.
It does not look like other doves of similar size in its area. This makes it easy to spot!
How Does the Tawitawi Brown Dove Sound?
This dove has a unique song. It sings a series of notes that get faster and faster. The sound stays on the same pitch. It ends with a trill, which is a quick, vibrating sound.
People say its song sounds like a ping-pong ball bouncing on a table. It goes "dup-dup-dup-du-du-d-d-drrrrr".
Where Does the Tawitawi Brown Dove Live?
The Tawitawi brown dove lives in tropical forests. It prefers moist lowland secondary forests and forest edges. These are forests that have grown back after being cut down. It is less common in primary forest, which are very old, untouched forests.
Living in these areas shows that the dove can live even in forests that have been changed by people. This means it can handle some disturbance to its home.
Why Is the Tawitawi Brown Dove Endangered?
The IUCN Red List says this bird is an endangered species. There are only about 250 to 999 adult birds left. This means its population is very small and at risk.
The biggest danger to this dove is habitat loss. Its forest home is being cleared away. This happens because of illegal and legal logging. Forests are also cut down for mining and to create farmland. People use a method called Slash-and-burn to clear land. Cities are also growing, taking up more forest space.
People also hunt and trap these doves. This happens even though there are laws against it.
What Is Being Done to Help?
Right now, there are no special protected areas in the Sulu Archipelago. This means there are no specific places set aside just for the dove.
However, there is a plan to get money to help protect the coastal areas of Tawitawi and Sulu. This could help the dove and its home. There are no specific programs just for the Tawitawi brown dove yet.
