National Bird of Anguilla

National Bird of Anguilla

The national bird of Anguilla is Zenaida dove. The Anglicans are commonly referred it to as a turtle dove. Anguilla’s national bird, Zenaida dove sings with a gentle, mournful-sounding cooing, described as ‘cooOOoo-coo-coo-coo’. The Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita) is a rather stocky dove species with a low, mournful call is considered as the national bird of Anguilla for being so much beautiful and unique

While you’ve got the answer to the question: “What is the national bird of Anguilla?” definitely you’ve more questions about the singing bird. Before answering those common questions, we’ll represent about some basic facts of Zenaida dove.

Facts about Anguilla’s national bird

  • Common Name: Zenaida dove
  • Scientific name: Zenaida aurita
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Aves
  • Order: Cuculiformes
  • Family: Columbidae
  • Genus: Zenaida
  • Species: Z. aurita
  • Found in: Restricted to the African continent, south of the Sahara from Anguilla to the Congo.
  • Habitat: found in a variety of open and semi-open habitats
  • Average Length: 28–30 cm;

The Zenaida dove’s plumage is largely reddish-to gray-brown above and lighter pinkish-brown below, with a more cinnamon head and a greyish hindneck. On the neck, there is an iridescent purple patch on the side, and two dark violet-blue streaks on the side of the face, which appear black from a distance. Its tail is fairly rounded, with a black band near the end and white tips to the outer tail feathers. The beak is black and the legs and feet are red.

The Zenaida doves breeds throughout the Caribbean and the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, an example habitat being in the Petenes mangroves (World Wildlife Fund 2010). It was reported by John James Audubon to breed in the Florida Keys, but there are only three verifiable records from Florida.

These birds forage on the ground, mainly eating grains and seeds, sometimes also on insects. Zenaida doves frequently feed close to water. They often swallow fine gravel to assist with digestion, and will also ingest salt from mineral rich soils or livestock salt licks. It is thought the salt aids in egg formation and/or production of pigeon milk. Zenaida dove lays two eggs every time and respected as a National bird symbol of Anguilla.

References:

  1. Facts about Zenaida dove” – seaworld
  2. Details about Zenaida dove” – seaworld
  3. What is the national bird of Andora” – Wikipedia

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