Ruddy Pigeon

A resident of Kabalebo, Suriname: Ruddy Pigeon. 

Even though the Ruddy Pigeon is a resident of the interior of Kabalebo, it is quite often difficult to photograph them. They are arboreal pigeons which means you won't see them on the ground and when foraging for food they are so quiet that only the sounds of moving leaves will tell you that they are hiding in plain view.

The Ruddy Pigeon (Patagioenas subvinacea) is a plain looking large pigeon ((27 - 32 cm) with reddish eyes. Most of the time I have seen Ruddy Pigeons in branches full with plant parasites. These plant parasites are full with small seeds, a delicacy it seems for the Ruddy Pigeon.

I have seen Ruddy Pigeons most of the time as a pair, quietly eating the small seeds of plant parasites. Even though the plant parasites are of no good for trees, it seems that they are needed to feed for instance the Ruddy Pigeon.

I have seen many doves in Kabalebo (Suriname) like Eared Dove, Gray-fronted Dove and White-tipped Dove, but the Ruddy Pigeon is for now the only Pigeon I have seen in the interior.