About Patagioenas corensis (Jacquin, 1784)
Patagioenas corensis, commonly known as the bare-eyed pigeon, has distinct size differences between males and females. Males measure 32 to 37 cm (13 to 15 in) in length, while females measure 30 to 34.5 cm (11.8 to 13.6 in). Individuals of the species weigh approximately 274 g (9.7 oz) on average. Males and females have identical plumage. Their head, neck, and breast are colored mauve-pink. Their orange-brown eyes are surrounded by bare skin, consisting of a narrow blue inner ring and a wider outer area of reddish brown. The neck and upper back have a scaled appearance from a pattern of bronze-black and pale brown, while the lower back and rump are pale bluish gray. The chin and vent region are white, and a broad white patch is visible on the closed wing. Juvenile bare-eyed pigeons are paler versions of adult individuals. This pigeon species is native to the Caribbean coasts of Colombia and Venezuela, as well as the near-shore islands of Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Margarita, and Blanquilla. It primarily lives in arid landscapes with thorn scrub, cactus, and acacia, and can also be found in mangroves and cultivated areas. On the mainland, it occurs at elevations up to 400 m (1,300 ft) above sea level, though it generally lives at much lower elevations. The species was introduced to the Caribbean island of Saint Martin in late 2012 or early 2013, and its population there has since increased greatly and spread across the whole island.
