Skip to main content

Photo: iNaturalist user: thibaudaronson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Endangered

Sao Tome Olive Pigeon

Columba thomensis

Sao Tome Olive Pigeon (Columba thomensis) — Pigeons & Doves of Africa.

The Sao Tome Olive Pigeon (Columba thomensis) is a member of the Columbidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 429 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.

EN Endangered

Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Columbiformes
  3. Family Columbidae Pigeons, Doves
  4. Genus Columba
  5. Species thomensis

Where it lives

Montane São Tomé (south-central Gulf of Guinea Is.)

Quick facts

Weight
429 g
Family
Columbidae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Sao Tome Olive Pigeon is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.

Behaviour

A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The Sao Tome Olive Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Sao Tome Olive Pigeon (Columba thomensis) is a member of the Columbidae family, within the order Columbiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF montane São Tomé (sc Gulf of Guinea Is.).

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 429 g, with a wing length of about 23.3 cm and a tail of around 15.2 cm.

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 323 km² — a relatively restricted global range.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Sao Tome Olive Pigeon?

The Sao Tome Olive Pigeon is a large bird that weighs around 429 g.

Where does the Sao Tome Olive Pigeon live?

The Sao Tome Olive Pigeon is found across Africa with a range covering AF montane São Tomé (sc Gulf of Guinea Is.), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Sao Tome Olive Pigeon belong to?

The Sao Tome Olive Pigeon (Columba thomensis) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.

What does the Sao Tome Olive Pigeon eat?

The Sao Tome Olive Pigeon is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.

Does the Sao Tome Olive Pigeon migrate?

The Sao Tome Olive Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Sao Tome Olive Pigeon endangered?

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

How large is the Sao Tome Olive Pigeon's range?

The Sao Tome Olive Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 323 km².

Conservation

Endangered

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

How to help birds

Explore more birds

More in Columbidae

More in Pigeons & Doves

Guides for this bird

Meet the Columbidae

A field guide to the Columbidae family — 352 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.

1 min read

Back to top