Spot-winged pigeon

Scientific name: Patagioenas maculosa

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Medium-sized pigeon with distinctive white spots on the wings (coverts), grey-brown body plumage, and a small head. Males and females are similar in appearance; males average slightly larger.

Size and weight

Adult weight: 180–220 g; body length: 25–28 cm. Sexual dimorphism is minimal.

Habitat

Inhabits montane and foothill forests of the Andes, typically between 1,500–3,500 m elevation. Prefers humid cloud forests and mixed woodland with dense canopy cover.

Distribution

Endemic to the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Favours steep mountain slopes with undisturbed forest; more common in protected areas and less-hunted terrain.

Diet

Primarily seed-eater; forages on fallen seeds from forest floor, particularly from Andean oak and other mast-producing trees. Supplements with berries and green vegetation seasonally.

Behaviour

Diurnal and crepuscular; most active at dawn and dusk. Generally occurs singly or in small flocks; quiet and inconspicuous, often heard before seen. Moves between roosting and feeding sites with swift, direct flight.

Hunting tips

Look for fresh droppings and scratched leaf-litter beneath fruiting trees; observe flight lines between feeding and roost sites at dawn. Approach uphill slowly through dense cover, using forest edge and gullies as concealment. Birds often freeze when alarmed rather than flush immediately; locate by soft calls and gentle wing-beats through canopy.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 3 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.