During our trip to Florida we got to see many examples of subtropical wildlife. On that list was the White-crowned Pigeon. As a birder, catching a glimpse, and hopefully a picture, of this rare and threatened species was quickly put on my “must do” list as soon as we learned about them. Our last day in the Keys brought us to Big Pine Key where we were able to see a veritable plethora of these beautiful birds after five days of a White-crowned Pigeon drought.
Now, you may be asking, what is so special about a pigeon? We have them all over the New York/New Jersey area and there is nothing special about our little gray friends here who love the occasional french fry or crumb thrown their way by passers-by.
Well, to start, this species of pigeon can only be found in the Caribbean and the southernmost reaches of Florida and the Florida Keys. Because this is the only area in the United States this bird can be found, with the exception of some US territories in the Caribbean, its status is not on our federal listing. However, the state of Florida’s Fish and Wildlife has deemed them threatened and the IUCN has listed them as near threatened. This site has more information on what made them a threatened species and what is keeping them threatened.
Additionally, the coloration of the White-crowned Pigeon is very unique. They have a dark gray body with a beautiful white cap, or crown, on the top of their head. As these birds are primarily fruit eaters, you will most likely see them up in the tree canopy or hammock, where their coloration allows them to blend into the shadows created by leaves, rather than strutting along the ground like the Rock Pigeons and Pied Rock Pigeons that we find here in the tri-state area. To get to their feeding grounds from their nesting areas, they usually fly a long distance, sometimes more than 30 miles each day. You can read more fun facts about this species here.
While observing the wildlife in Florida, I found the best technique was to be silent and still, listening and looking for what may be moving around me. This technique paid off on Big Pine Key as I heard a ruckus in a near-by tree. The breeding season for these birds is from May to September, and I was able to witness and record two White-crowned Pigeons mating in a tree not ten feet from where I was standing. Getting to witness these birds and their mating habits first hand was definitely a memorable experience.
So if you ever find yourself in the Florida Keys, or the Everglades, keep quiet and still with your gaze in the trees. You, too, may be able to see one of these magnificent royal birds for yourself.
I remember going into the trip, it was mentioned that we might not see any of these individuals in the wild due to their status, but actually saw a surprising amount on our journeys. It was also mentioned that if we did scare them off, they would have only flown a tree away, which did turn out to be true. It's very sad that their loss of habitat has affected the population negatively, however the population does seem to be bouncing back which is a good sign.
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