Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is only known from northern Peru and adjacent southern Ecuador. The population is suspected to be small; it is declining slowly as a result of habitat loss and hunting pressure. The species therefore qualifies as Near Threatened.
Population justification
The population size has not been quantified. The species is generally relatively uncommon; it is scarce in heavily populated areas in the north of its range, but relatively common in more inaccessible parts of its range (Wege and Long 1995, Davies et al. 1997, Begazo et al. 2001, Baptista et al. 2020). It is tentatively suspected that the population size is between 2,500 and 9,999 mature individuals (see SERFOR 2018).
Even though the population structure has not been formally assessed, observational records (per eBird 2021) suggest that all individuals are part of the same subpopulation.
Trend justification
The species is undergoing a decline caused by the impacts of habitat loss and degradation and presumably by hunting and trapping pressure. Over three generations (13.8 years; Bird et al. 2020), about 6% of tree cover is lost within the range (Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). While surveys of the Cordillera de Colán, Amazonas, suggest that the species is tolerant of some forest degradation (Clements and Shany 2001), it is likely suffering additional pressures from hunting and low levels of trapping for the bird trade (Baptista et al. 2020, S. Bruslund in litt. 2022). The rate of population decline is therefore likely exceeding the rate of forest loss and is here tentatively placed in the band 1-19% over three generations.
Patagioenas oenops occupies a restricted range in northern Peru, principally in the upper Marañón valley in Cajamarca and Amazonas, with further records from La Libertad and Piura, and in extreme south-east Ecuador (Ridgely et al. 1998, Clements and Shany 2001, Schulenberg et al. 2007).
The species inhabits riparian woodland, dominated by the willow Salix humbertiana and the pepper tree Schinus molle, and adjacent dry forest on steep valley slopes, mainly at 850-2,400 m (Baptista et al. 2020). It has also been recorded in degraded, humid premontane forest and around mango orchards (Davies et al. 1997, R. Webster and R. A. Rowlett in litt 1998). It appears to make limited seasonal elevational movements. Its ecology is very poorly known, with virtually no data on feeding, although it has been seen eating ripe coca seeds (Baptista et al. 1997), and singles and pairs have been recorded in fruiting trees (including Cordia lutea) (Davies et al. 1997, Begazo 2001). The only breeding data refers to a juvenile collected in April.
The gradual degradation and loss of its already naturally restricted habitat are causing a population decline, although surveys of the Cordillera de Colán, Amazonas suggest it is tolerant of some forest degradation (Clements and Shany 2001, Baptista et al. 2020). Forest within the range is lost to agriculture, cattle ranching, mining and fires (SERFOR 2018). Furthermore, the species is targeted in low numbers for the domestic and international bird trade (S. Bruslund in litt. 2022) and at least locally appears to suffer some hunting pressure (Baptista et al. 2020, D. F. Cisneros-Heredia in litt. 2022). Its relative abundance within inaccessible areas, but scarcity in heavily populated regions, suggest that these threats have already resulted in population declines.
Conservation Actions Underway
There are no targeted conservation actions for this species.
31-34 cm. Medium-sized, grey-and-rufous pigeon. Grey-brown head. Purplish-brown underparts, paler on throat. Grey lower belly and vent. Upperparts, inner wing-coverts and scapulars chestnut tinged purplish. Rest of wing grey, dusky remiges. Grey rump, darker uppertail-coverts. Blackish tail. Bluish-grey bill with red base. Similar spp. Pale-vented Pigeon C. cayennensis is drabber, with less rufous on wing and grey tail. Voice Not reported. Hints In small groups, best located in favoured fruiting trees.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Benstead, P., Bruslund, S., Cisneros-Heredia, D.F., Ridgely, R.S., Rowlett, R.A., Sharpe, C.J., Symes, A. & Webster, R.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Peruvian Pigeon Patagioenas oenops. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/peruvian-pigeon-patagioenas-oenops on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.