Species · GBIF taxon 2495310
White-crowned Pigeon
Patagioenas leucocephalaAlso known as White-headed Dove, White-headed Pigeon
White-crowned Pigeons are striking, slate-grey birds of the Caribbean and southern Florida that rely heavily on coastal mangrove forests for nesting and hardwood hammocks for foraging. They fly long distances over open water between islands to find seasonal fruits, traveling in fast, direct flocks. Their survival is closely tied to the preservation of these fragile coastal ecosystems, which face heavy development pressure.
FrugivorousCoastal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Poisonwood Fruit
- Ficus Figs
- Sea Grape Berries
Predators
- Peregrine Falcons
- Raccoons
- Invasive Rats
ThreatsHabitat loss, coastal development, hunting, and collisions with man-made structures
HabitatsMangrove forests, tropical hardwood hammocks, coastal scrub
Life span10 to 14 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyColumbidae
- SpeciesPatagioenas leucocephala
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a dark slate-grey body contrasted with a brilliant, snow-white cap on the head.
- Support conservation
- Keep a respectful distance from nesting colonies in mangroves, especially during the summer breeding season.
Responsible observation
- Listen for Calls: Listen for their deep, hollow, four-syllable cooing, which sounds like 'who-who-coo-coo' coming from dense canopy.
- Scan the Canopy: Look for them feeding silently in the tops of poisonwood, fig, and sea grape trees during early morning.
- Watch the Coastline: Spot them flying fast and low over the ocean between foraging islands and nesting keys.
Image unavailableCo-occurring Species Primary Food Source 
Close Relative (c) Thibaud Aronson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Thibaud Aronson · cc-by-sa
Family Member (c) Paul Danese, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.