Mindanao bleeding-heart dove

Scientific Name: Gallicolumba crinigera Animal Type: Bird Location: Philiippines Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Profile

 

The bleeding-heart dove, which gets its name from the red patch on its breast, is found only in the Philippines. In the past it was recorded in several different regions, but since 1980 it has only been seen in two, on the islands of Bohol and Mindanao.

The almost complete loss of its tropical forest habitat has caused this dramatic decline. Much of its range is leased to logging and mining concessions. Some areas of Mindanao are being cleared of native trees and replanted with exotic species for paper production. Hunting for food and the pet trade is also a problem, as it is for many of the Philippine’s birds.

Saving this beautiful species from extinction will mean protecting its remaining habitat and ensuring that laws on hunting and trapping are enforced more effectively.

Bleeding-heart doves spend a lot of time on the ground, feeding on the forest floor. They prefer dry, coastal areas where the undergrowth is relatively sparse. They are very good at hiding themselves and so are hard to spot. They tend to run from danger, typically flying only a short distance when disturbed.

In Jersey, the doves have been breeding successfully for several years. They are a stunning addition to Durrell’s Jewels of the Forest exhibit, which highlights the world’s songbirds. Its mix of tree-dwelling and ground-living species give a more accurate impression of how birds in forests can live together.
 

Other Vulnerable Animals Andean bear Black-winged stilt Blue crane Blue poison frog Emperor tamarin Jamaican boa Komodo Dragon Lesser Antillean iguana Lesser night gecko Mallorcan midwife toad Mauritius kestrel Palawan peacock-pheasant Ring-tailed lemur St Lucia parrot Telfair's skink White-naped crane