WHITE-CROWNED PIGEONS (Patagioenas leucocephala) IN SUBURBAN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND CITIZEN-SCIENCE DATA

摘要

The threatened White-crowned Pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala) forages in intact hardwood hammock forest and breeds in mangroves, and historically is not closely associated with suburban habitat. Our observations of this bird in the Miami-Dade County suburbs prompted us to reassess whether this species is present in these habitats. We reviewed the literature and citizen-science records (through eBird) in the region to determine the frequency of observations of the White-crowned Pigeon across Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. We found that in Miami-Dade, the frequency of observation of this bird is fairly constant year-round. This contrasts with the Florida Keys, where observations of the pigeon decrease in the winter months. We suggest that ecological changes to the region, such as replacing freshwater marsh with tree-lined suburbs and recently increasing street tree canopy cover, may have facilitated year-round expansion of White-crowned Pigeons in Miami-Dade County.