Wetar ground dove facts for kids
The Wetar ground dove (scientific name: Pampusana hoedtii) is a special type of bird that belongs to the Columbidae family, which includes doves and pigeons. You can find this bird on the islands of Wetar in Indonesia and Timor. It likes to live in certain kinds of habitats, like monsoon forests (forests with heavy seasonal rain) and gallery forests (forests along rivers). It might also live in woodlands and bamboo areas. Sadly, this beautiful bird is in danger because it's losing its home and is sometimes hunted. Because of this, experts say it is an endangered species.
Quick facts for kids Wetar ground dove |
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Pampusana
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hoedtii
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Contents
About Its Name
The Wetar ground dove was first described in 1871 by a scientist named Hermann Schlegel. He found the bird on Wetar Island.
The bird's scientific name, hoedtii, comes from Dirk Samuel Hoedt. He was a Dutch collector who owned farms in the East Indies. Scientists sometimes name new species after the people who helped find them.
Over time, the scientific name of this bird has changed a few times. It used to be in the Gallicolumba group, then Alopecoenas. In 2019, its genus name was officially changed to Pampusana. This is because Pampusana was an older name that had priority.
What It Looks Like
The Wetar ground dove is about 27 centimeters (about 10.6 inches) long.
Male Wetar Ground Dove
The male bird has a blue-grey head and a greyish-white throat. Its chest is a light cream color, and its belly is blackish. The back of its neck is reddish-brown. Its back and rump (the area above the tail) are a reddish-brown color. The tail feathers are dark olive-brown. It also has a purple patch on the sides of its chest and on some of its wing feathers. Its beak is black, and its feet are reddish-violet.
Female Wetar Ground Dove
The female bird looks a bit different. Her head, neck, and chest are a rusty chestnut color. Her upper body and belly are olive-brown.
Where It Lives and Its Home
This dove is found on two islands: Wetar and Timor. Both islands are part of Indonesia.
Scientists found fewer than 20 of these birds on Wetar around the year 1900. However, many more were seen in 2008 and 2009. In Timor-Leste (the eastern part of Timor island), a few birds were spotted near the border with Indonesia in 2005. In West Timor, they have only been recorded in three places.
The Wetar ground dove lives in areas up to 950 meters (about 3,117 feet) above sea level. It prefers monsoon forests, which are forests that get a lot of rain during certain seasons. It also likes gallery forests, which are forests that grow along rivers. Sometimes, it might live in woodlands and areas with bamboo.
What It Does
The Wetar ground dove has been seen eating fruits from Ficus trees. It usually finds these fruits on the ground.
Reproduction and Nesting
It seems that these doves lay their eggs and raise their young during the dry season. They build their nests high up in the tree canopy (the top layer of branches and leaves).
Calls
The Wetar ground dove makes a soft "whu-wup" sound when it calls from the treetops. Sometimes, it might add a "du du-wup" before the call or a "trrr" sound after it.
Why It's Endangered
The number of Wetar ground doves is getting smaller very quickly. Experts believe there are fewer than 10,000 birds left on Wetar Island, and possibly even fewer than 3,000. The total number of these birds in the world is estimated to be between 1,500 and 7,000 adult birds.
Threats to the Doves
The main reasons why these birds are in danger are:
- Habitat Loss: Their homes (forests) are being destroyed. This happens a lot on Timor Island.
- Hunting: People sometimes hunt these birds.
On Wetar Island, there is less hunting because the island is harder to reach. However, forests are still being cleared there, which threatens the doves. New mining projects and road building could also cause more problems for their homes in the future.
Because of these threats, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Wetar ground dove as an endangered species. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. People are trying to help by suggesting that protected areas be created in West Timor and Wetar to keep these birds safe.
