Caribbean speciality

It occured to me recently that a lot of the birds I've posted would be familiar to a lot of north american readers who encounter them at the other end of their ranges or migrations and that, as a result, people may be interested in seeing some Caribbean endemics which they are less likely to have encountered. So here goes with the first of these; the scaly-naped pigeon.

This pretty, plump pigeon is in the genus Columba just like the feral pigeons we all see but it really reminds me of a jazzed up English woodpigeon. The behaviour, jizz and call are all pretty similar and it sits with the same plump indifference on exposed spots where not hunted.

I'm embarrassed to confess I had never, until I decided to take pictures of it, got round to putting high-powered optics on these common birds and when I did I was pleasantly surprised by some of the details. I particularly like the contrast between the red eye and yellow surround and the two-tone bill. You can almost make out the neck detail that gives it its name from these shots too although this fellow was unwilling to turn round and give me a look.

Scaly-naped pigeons have recovered well from hunting pressure and are now common here, our other Columba, the white-capped pigeon has not and is still on my "to see" list.