Plain Pigeon
Patagioenas inornata

AKA: Blue Pigeon,

©L. Miranda

Distribution: Was once widely found throughout Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico. Today it is rare in Cuba, still quite common in Haiti, existing in a good numbers in Puerto Rico and a small population in the Dominican Republic. The current population fluctuates at about 2000 birds; with 40-50 birds in a captive breeding program  in Puerto Rico. Found in primary & secondary rainforests, pinewoods, desert thorn-scrub, mangroves & open country from sea level to high elevations on it's native habitat. 

Three races recognized: P. i. inornata - Cuba, Hispaniola & Isle of Pines (Vigors 1897); P. i. exigua - Jamaica (Ridgway 1915); P. i. wetmorei - Puerto Rico (Peters 1937)

Description: Length 39-41 cm. Head, neck, breast & underparts dark purplish pink shading to bluish grey on flanks & undertail coverts. Wing shields have a deep maroon wing patch and the wing has a white edge. Back, rump & uppertail coverts bluish grey. Tail black above & below. Iris white, whitish grey to bluish with an orange outer ring; orbital skin greyish purple, purplish pink to red - depending on the subspecies. Bill greyish & black tipped.  Female similar. Juvenile browner & duller then adults. 

Voice:

Nesting: Single white egg, incubation 13-15 days (D. Gibbs book); 18 days (M. Oberle's book on Puerto Rico Birds). Young fledge by three weeks.

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