Arnold Uy recently went to the Raydah
Escarpment near Abha and found a relatively tame African Olive Pigeon Columba
arquatrix. This is a scarce to uncommon species although it is a local
breeder in the southwest highlands. It is not entirely clear if birds are
resident although HBW states it is, as there is only one record from the months
of December to February. It is a large pigeon,
about the size of a European Woodpigeon and is predominantly dark grey with
obvious white speckles on breast and wing-coverts. The females are a bit duller
than the males. The iris is pale yellow to light brown, the bare skin around
the eye, cere, bill and legs are bright yellow, which is conspicuous and
diagnostic even in flight. They feed on fruits of various trees, including Podocarpus,
Prunus
and Ficus
species and are patchily from Eritrea south through eastern Democratic Republic
of Congo and Tanzania to southern South Africa. There are other populations in southwest
Saudi Arabia and nearby northern Yemen and west Angola.The species was
discovered as a new species for Saudi Arabia in the mid 1980’s. JENNINGS, M. C.
1986. The Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix on Jebel Suda, Asir Province: a
new bird species for Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula. J. Saudi Arab.
Nat. Hist. Soc. (2)6:35-36. Arnold did very well to get such a good photo of
the bird as they are difficult to see at the best of times. Arnolds photo is
shown below and he has kindly given me permission to use it.
