Bird Guide

Red-billed Pigeon vs Spot-winged Pigeon

Red-billed Pigeon (Patagioenas flavirostris)

Red-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas flavirostris

Medium271 gWoodland

Red-billed pigeons have largely dark, slate-gray plumage with a more maroon, though sometimes described as purple, head, neck, and wing coverts. They have pale red eyes with an orange orbital ring, along with a red bill with a yellow tip. Noticeably, they don't have iridescent collar plumage. A blue-gray belly and tail coverts, as well as a less brown back, distinguish it from most other species., such as the Ruddy Pigeon and Short-billed Pigeon. The only noticeable difference between males and females is that the females have a duller colored head and neck.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: iNaturalist user: carnifex · CC BY 4.0
Spot-winged Pigeon (Patagioenas maculosa)

Spot-winged Pigeon

Patagioenas maculosa

Large347 gWoodland

The two subspecies of spot-winged pigeon differ significantly in their plumage. The nominate P. m. maculosa is 32 to 33 cm (13 to 13 in) long and weighs 308 to 347 g (10.9 to 12.2 oz). The adult male's forehead, crown, nape, hindneck, and breast are mostly dull purplish pink and the rest of the head and underparts are gray. The upper back and wing coverts are dark brown and show creamy white spots. The wings are mostly black above and pale gray below. The lower back and rump are bluish gray and the tail dark gray. The adult female is similar but the head and neck are generally duller. Voice: P. m. maculosa's song is "a rhythmic series of very hoarse-sounding coos...'cuuuuu uh-cuh-cuuuh...' repeated two or three times. Its call is "a repeated growling 'grwhoh'". P. m. albipennis's song is "a gruff 'rrrrrow grr-g’RRRR grr-g’RRRR grr-g’RRRR'" and its call a "short 'corw'".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Leonel Roget · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Red-billed Pigeon and Spot-winged Pigeon.