No 53 - Polynesian Ground Dove

 

The Polynesian Ground Dove, Gallicolumba erythroptera, is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Speciesä. This beautiful dove can be found in the forests, scrubland, plantations, and rural gardens of French Polynesia. It can be identified by its low melancholic moan and a splash of white over the males’ chest, throat and eyebrows. Today, there are less than 200 Polynesian Ground Doves left in the wild. Historically there are two main reasons for the decline in numbers of this species: hunting and newly introduced predators to the islands such as cats and rats. More recently this shy dove has struggled with human expansion into its habitat.