Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Madagascar Blue Pigeon
Alectroenas madagascariensis
Madagascar Blue Pigeon (Alectroenas madagascariensis) — Pigeons & Doves of Africa.
The Madagascar Blue Pigeon (Alectroenas madagascariensis) is a member of the Columbidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 173 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Columbiformes
- Family Columbidae Pigeons, Doves
- Genus Alectroenas
- Species madagascariensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 173 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Madagascar Blue 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 Madagascar Blue Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Madagascar Blue Pigeon (Alectroenas madagascariensis) is a species of bird in the Columbidae family, part of the order Columbiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF nw, c, e Madagascar.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 173 g, with a wing length of about 17.1 cm and a tail of around 8.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 312,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Madagascar Blue Pigeon?
The Madagascar Blue Pigeon is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 173 g.
Where does the Madagascar Blue Pigeon live?
The Madagascar Blue Pigeon is found across Africa with a range covering AF nw, c, e Madagascar, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Madagascar Blue Pigeon belong to?
The Madagascar Blue Pigeon (Alectroenas madagascariensis) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Madagascar Blue Pigeon eat?
The Madagascar Blue Pigeon is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Madagascar Blue Pigeon migrate?
The Madagascar Blue Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Madagascar Blue Pigeon endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Madagascar Blue Pigeon make?
1 real field recording of the Madagascar Blue Pigeon — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Madagascar Blue Pigeon's range?
The Madagascar Blue Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 312,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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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.