Spot-winged pigeon
The spot-winged pigeon ("Patagioenas maculosa") is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. Taxonomy and systematics. At least one author has asserted, based on plumage similarities, that the spot-winged pigeon, picazuro pigeon ("P. picazuro"), bare-eyed pigeon ("P. corensis"), and scaled pigeon ("P. speciosa") form a monophyletic group. Others argue that significant vocal differences belie that. According to the International Ornithological Committee (IOC), the Clements taxonomy, and the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society, the spot-winged pigeon has  two subspecies, the nominate "P. m. maculosa" and "P. m. albipennis", . The Handbook of the Birds of the World treats the latter as a separate species, white-winged pigeon. Description. The two subspecies of spot-winged pigeon differ significantly in their plumage. The nominate "P. m. maculosa" is long and weighs . The adult male's forehead, crown, nape, hindneck, and breast are mostly dull purplish pink and the rest of the head and underparts are gray. The upper back and wing coverts are dark brown and show creamy white spots. The wings are mostly black above and pale gray below . The lower back and rump are bluish gray and the tail dark gray. The adult female is similar but the head and neck are generally duller. The juvenile is also similar, but duller all over with drab gray head and breast. "P. m. albipennis" is slightly larger, long. The adults' head, neck, rump, and the whole of the underparts are blue-gray with a purplish wash that is especially pronounced in the male. The upper back and wing coverts are gray-brown. The folded wing shows a conspicuous white band that contrasts with the otherwise dark wing. As in the  nominate subspecies, the juvenile is a duller version of the adult. Distribution and habitat. "P. m. maculosa" is found in southeastern Bolivia south and east through Paraguay, southern Brazil, and Uruguay to south-central Argentina. It inhabits arid to semi-arid open woodland and scrub up to in elevation. It shuns towns. "P. m. albipennis" is found from central Peru south to western and central Bolivia, extreme northwestern Argentina, and far northern Chile. It also inhabits arid to semi-arid open woodland and scrub, but at elevations generally between . It is locally common in towns. Behavior. Feeding. Both subspecies of  spot-winged pigeon typically feed in flocks on the ground. "P. m. maculosa"s diet is mostly seeds, including rice and sunflower, but it has been observed eating fruit and leaves. "P. m. albipennis"s diet has not been studied. Breeding. "P. m. maculosa" breeds year round in Argentina and probably does so in Brazil. It builds a fragile nest in trees and lays one or two eggs. "P. m. albipennis"s breeding phenology has not been studied, but "frequency of calling apparently increases in Oct, suggesting that this might indicate the onset of the breeding season." Vocalization. "P. m. maculosa"s song is  a rhythmic series of very hoarse-sounding coos...'cuuuuu uh-cuh-cuuuh...' repeated two or three times. Its call is a repeated growling 'grwhoh'". "P. m. albipennis"s song is "a gruff 'rrrrrow grr-g’RRRR grr-g’RRRR grr-g’RRRR'" and its call a "short 'corw'". Status. The IUCN treats "P. m. maculosa" and "P. m. albipennis" as separate species, and has assessed both at being of Least Concern. "P. m. maculosa" is common and widespread in the southern part of its range, and its population might be increasing. "P. m. albipennis" is distributed more locally, but its population might also be  growing.