Madeiran Wood Pigeon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Madeiran Wood Pigeon | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation status | ||||||||||||||||
|
Extinct (1924)
|
||||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
| Trinomial name | ||||||||||||||||
| Columba palumbus maderensis (Tschusi, 1904) |
The Madeiran Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus maderensis) was an endemic subspecies of the Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) for Madeira (Portugal).
The Madeiran Wood Pigeon closely resembled the mainland Wood Pigeon of Europe, but the plumage was somewhat darker, especially on the upperparts and under wing-coverts. The vinous-pink of the breast was more extensive.
Ornithologist E. Schmitz lived on the island of Madeira by 1896-1906, a time when the Madeiran Wood Pigeon was already rare. Despite great efforts, Schmitz managed to collect only a few specimens and eggs. In May 1924, no Madeiran Wood Pigeon was found, nor was any seen in later years, not even by local pigeon hunters. This subspecies is most likely extinct now.
