Species of bird
The Tawitawi brown dove (Phapitreron cinereiceps), also dark-eared brown dove, is a threatened species of bird in the family Columbidae noted for its orange-peach breast. It is endemic to forests in the Sulu Archipelago (islands of Tawi-Tawi and Sanga-Sanga) in the Philippines. Until recently it was considered conspecific with the Mindanao brown dove and collectively called the dark-eared brown dove. Although threatened by habitat loss, the rate of loss significantly reduced from 2004 to 2007, and it was thus downlisted from Critically Endangered to Endangered status in the 2007 IUCN Red List.[2]
Description and taxonomy
EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized dove of lowland secondary forest on Tawi-Tawi Island, where it is the only brown-dove. Dark brown above with a gray head, purplish iridescence on the back of the neck, rufous-brown underparts from the throat to the belly, white under the base of the tail, and a pale gray tail tip. Does not resemble any other similarly sized doves in its range. Sings an accelerating series on the same pitch, ending in a trill, 'dup-dup-dup-du-du-d-d-drrrrr', reminiscent of a ping-pong ball falling on a table."[3]
It was formerly conspecific with the Mindanao brown dove but differs greatly in plummage and voice. This species has a gray vcrown, an orange belly and a light brown vent and undertail.
Ecology and behavior
Almost nothing is known about this species but it is pressumed to be a frugivore feeding on seeds and fruits. A male in breeding condition was collected in April. [4]
Habitat and conservation status
Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland secondary forests and forest edge with it being less common in primary forest. It being more common in these areas shows that it is tolerant of degraded forests .[5]
The IUCN Red List classifies this bird as an endangered species with population estimates of 250 to 999 mature individuals This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of legal and illegal logging, mining and conversion into farmlands through Slash-and-burn and urbanization. Hunting and trapping also occurs despite laws against these practices.
There are no protected areas in the archipelago. A project proposal exists to provide conservation funding for the Tawitawi/Sulu Coastal Area.
There are no species specific conservation programs going on at the moment.[6]
References
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