Sulu Bleeding-heart
Tawitawitaube ( Gallicolumba menagei )
The Tawitawitaube ( Gallicolumba menagei ), also referred to as Tawitawidolchstichtaube, is an extremely rare or already extinct pigeon from the genus of Indo-Pacific Earth Dove. It is endemic to the Philippine island of Tawi Tawi. The specific epithet honors Louis Menage, a wealthy businessman from Minneapolis, the expedition of Frank and Dean Conant Worcester Swift Bourns funded 1890-1892, on which the Tawitawitaube was discovered.
Features
The Tawitawitaube reached a size of 30 centimeters. The dark gray color of the end turns into a dazzling green at the neck and upper mantle. The rest of the top is maroon color with a deep red-violet shine. A green belt that runs around the lower chest, forms a sharp contrast between the white neck and the sides of the chest. The wings are maroon color. The belly is ashen. Rump and under tail-coverts are cream - white. On the white chest is a bright orange stain. The tail is short.
Way of life
About their life almost nothing is known. Similar to the other dagger pigeons is probably a bottom dweller and only fly short distances.
Inventory and risk
The Tawitawitaube is known only from two type specimens that were collected in 1891 on the island of Tawi Tawi. BirdLife International classifies this type in the category " Endangered" ( critically endangered ), because there are still hopes due to the locals, Tawi - Tawi, Siasi, Tandubatu, Dundangan, Baliungan and Simunal of 1995, that this bird still could exist. These reports suggest that this pigeon was still fairly common sight before the 1970s, the populations are decreased so dramatically that observations of Tawitawitaube therefore occur only very rarely. Although Tandubatu, Dundangan, Baliungan are still well wooded, is likely to further existence of the Tawitawitaube on these three islands to be unlikely, because they only have a total area of 17 km ². 1994, the remaining primary forest was cleared to Tawi - Tawi and the remaining forest areas degraded by logging. 1996, there were even plans to complete Tawi - Tawi Forest to be replaced by oil palm plantations. 2006, there were reports that some forest remnants have been preserved. The logging in the forest remnants, which is now limited to the rugged mountain regions, followed by the uncontrolled settlement and agricultural use. Clearing on a small scale are still operated on Tandubatu, Dundangan and Baliungan. During the martial law in the 1970s, hunting may have caused the pigeons a significant decrease in the population. In addition, the ongoing civil war between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Search prevented by this pigeon in recent years.