tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19288377.post4576882388731617925..comments2024-03-09T18:27:46.282+11:00Comments on The Nature of Robertson: On your bike, Brown Pigeon!Denis Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10031115992910569116noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19288377.post-35951686729571106972011-02-18T23:26:07.184+11:002011-02-18T23:26:07.184+11:00Hi Snail
Glad to have provided the opportunity for...Hi Snail<br />Glad to have provided the opportunity for you to show your style as a taxonomist, then.<br />You done good!<br />I was very pleased with the colour, and, although I didn't go on about it in the text (the post was already too rambling), the sex characteristics are clearly evident - just as old Harry Frith said in his (old) book.<br />Male has grey back of neck, and is duller. Female has a hot cinnamon head, and also speckled breast.<br />Both features clearly evident.<br />Above all, how co-operative of them to pose together? A rare opportunity.<br />DenisDenis Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10031115992910569116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19288377.post-50363513202848580032011-02-17T20:51:05.264+11:002011-02-17T20:51:05.264+11:00Hi Le Loup.
I am surprised you appear not to have ...Hi Le Loup.<br />I am surprised you appear not to have any pigeons or doves.<br />On the coast, east from you they are thick on the ground.<br />But if your forest is drier, I would still expect Bronzewing Pigeons. I know they get them in Canberra, and much further west as well.<br />Glad you appreciated the post, anyway.<br />I was going to ask if you had eaten them all, but that would be unkind, eh? ;-))<br />Cheers<br /><br />DenisDenis Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10031115992910569116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19288377.post-58155846676631996922011-02-17T19:21:27.954+11:002011-02-17T19:21:27.954+11:00A beautiful looking bird, & great images. Sadl...A beautiful looking bird, & great images. Sadly I have never seen any doves or pigeons in our forest, and I do love to see them.<br />Good post, thank you.<br />http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/Keithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12562001301604097606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19288377.post-5900480013191444252011-02-17T14:27:10.348+11:002011-02-17T14:27:10.348+11:00Clearly you've missed the cut and thrust of ta...<em>Clearly you've missed the cut and thrust of taxonomic debate.</em><br /><br />:)<br /><br />I have, indeed, Denis. I think I was trying to work out the taxonomy as I was typing. Should probably have done that <em>before</em>!<br /><br />And I envy you your opportunities to get such good pics of these lovely birds. There's a subtle beauty to that brown.Snailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063904446757916981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19288377.post-89190905912682730372011-02-17T08:49:47.222+11:002011-02-17T08:49:47.222+11:00Hi Mick - again.
I forgot to say that where I am,...Hi Mick - again. <br />I forgot to say that where I am, I don't have to plant trees, they grow by themselves.<br />In my garden plantings, the native plants are taking over. Kangaroo Apples are the forst and fastest, but they don't live long. Blackwood Wattles are the biggest and second fastest to establish. Sassafras are more slow to establish - they only self-seed in shade of other plants. But eventually they shade everything else out.<br />I agree, though, in new housing settlements, the challenge is to get trees established, to create habitat. <br />I am living in partially cleared rainforest habitat. Snail has gone the whole way, and is living right in the middle of it.<br />Cheers<br />DenisDenis Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10031115992910569116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19288377.post-57640501128073023402011-02-17T08:43:38.746+11:002011-02-17T08:43:38.746+11:00Thanks Mick
Well, it was a "first" for m...Thanks Mick<br />Well, it was a "first" for me - to get them here, so close. And they didn't come in to the feeder, which had watermelon on it at the time.<br />I was happy with the photos, too.<br />Cheers<br />DenisDenis Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10031115992910569116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19288377.post-1522939685540847922011-02-17T08:40:49.465+11:002011-02-17T08:40:49.465+11:00Hi Snail.
My brother is with me, and we both enjoy...Hi Snail.<br />My brother is with me, and we both enjoyed your comment. He says it is a long tale, to match its long tail.<br />I read up Harry Frith's book on Pigeons and Doves book, and found out about the ssp business, but Harry died before the whole DNA analysis thing developed, and before Christis and Boles revised everything!<br />My regular sources on the internet were inconsistent, giving me M. amboinensis and M. phasianella. I opted to link to the second one, as its website had a better photo attached. <br />Thanks fo your comment. <br />I really enjoyed your expose.<br />Clearly you've missed the cut and thrust of taxonomic debate.<br />Cheers<br />DenisDenis Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10031115992910569116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19288377.post-3814361449002004952011-02-17T06:05:00.032+11:002011-02-17T06:05:00.032+11:00Beautiful plumage detail in your photos of those b...Beautiful plumage detail in your photos of those birds, Denis. You were lucky to have them come down so close and to have extended views of them. <br />Interesting about the changes in habitat so close to you. I am more aware of the differences that planting different trees and shrubs can make.mickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19288377.post-53677702284821195092011-02-17T00:31:14.670+11:002011-02-17T00:31:14.670+11:00I can't get such good photos of this species, ...I can't get such good photos of this species, Denis! I hear them all the time, but they do not like the camera. They're much more cooperative at your place than they are at mine.<br /><br />The problems you highlight with multiple common names is why we taxonomists are so focussed on Latin names! I think the story is even more complicated because of the several subspecies. As far as I can tell, Linnaeus' name was <em>Columba amboinensis</em>, which is Ambon pigeon/dove. But later Temminck described what he thought was a different species from NSW. He named it <em>Columba phasianella</em>, essentially little pheasant pigeon/dove. The principle of priority gives Linnaeus' name precedence over Temminck's. Unless --- and I'm not sure what current ornithological thinking is --- the Australian birds belong to a different species from the Indonesian ones. <br /><br /><em>Macropygia</em> was a subgeneric name established later to distinguish these birds from yer bog standard <em>Columba</em>. It was subsequently elevated to generic status with <em>Columba amboinensis</em> designated as type species. <br /><br />From what I can gather, Temminck's NSW/S Qld birds are actually a subspecies of <em>Macropygia amboinensis</em>, so retain <em>phasianella</em> as the subspecific epithet, ie <em>Macropygia amboinensis phasianella</em> (Temminck). <br /><br />Reading over this comment, I don't think I've added anything except an extra layer of confusion! I probably should have left well alone.<br /><br />I'm backing out of the comment box now. I've got my hands up and I'm going quietly.Snailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063904446757916981noreply@blogger.com