(1882) Oenopopelia tranquebarica humilis (Temm.).
THE BURMESE RED TURTLE-DOVE.
Oenopopelia tranquebarica humilis, Fauna B. I., Birds, 2nd ed. vol. v, p. 251.
The Burmese Red Turtle-Dove occurs in Assam South of the Brahmapootra, the whole of Burma, the Andamans and the Indo¬-Chinese countries to South China, while South it is found as far as Pakjan in the Malay Peninsula.
Its nidification exactly resembles that of its Indian cousin ; it breeds in the same kinds of places and makes a nest of the same description.
It probably breeds also over the greater part of the year but, so far, most eggs have been taken between April and June in Burma, while Osmaston took eggs in the Andamans from February to April.
It was common in North Cachar up to 2,500 feet, though rare over 3,000 or 4,000 feet, and I took many nests but, except that it was more addicted to serub-jungle, secondary growth in cultivation etc. than its Indian cousin, I found nothing to remark on in its breeding habits.
Harington, in a letter to me, wrote :—I found several nests built close to those of Drongos, both D. ater, D. cinerascens and also Chibia, evidently built in these positions for the sake of the protection given by these pugnacious little birds.”
This, again, is an interesting record of a characteristic not only of the present bird but also of most other tree-building Pigeons and Doves. We also find the same thing occurs with the rock-breeding species, and a colony of Rock-Pigeons often breed close to the nesting haunt of a pair of Peregrines, who live principally on Pigeons yet never interfere with the colony alongside their own nest.
Forty eggs average 28.4 x 20.4 mm. : maxima 29.5 x 20.8 and 27.4 x 22.4 mm. ; minima 24.4 x 20.2 and 24.5 x 18.8 mm.
1882. Cenopopelia tranquebarica humilis
BookTitle:
The Nidification Of Birds Of The Indian Empire
Reference:
Baker, Edward Charles Stuart. The nidification of birds of the Indian Empire. Vol. 4. 1935.
Title in Book:
1882. Cenopopelia tranquebarica humilis
CatNo:
1882
Year:
1935
Page No:
171
Common name:
Burmese Red Turtle Dove
M_ID:
5005
M_SN:
Streptopelia tranquebarica humilis
Volume:
Vol. 4
Term name:
id:
15062
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