Novel ecological information for Silvery Pigeon Columba argentina, with first description of the chick

Abstract

Summary. Silvery Pigeon Columba argentina is a Critically Endangered species whose known population is apparently tiny and confined to islands off western Sumatra. In July 2021, during a bird survey of Simeulue and surrounding islands (Aceh province, Sumatra) we found a chick of this species collected by local people, an adult kept as a cagebird, and made several observations in the wild. We describe the species' chick, report other anecdotal information concerning nesting, and supply dietary information for this little-known pigeon.