Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)

Polynesian Ground-dove (Gallicolumba erythroptera) - HBW 4, p. 181

French: Gallicolombe érythroptère German: Tahititaube Spanish: Paloma-perdiz de Tuamotu
Other common names: Society/Tuamotu/White-breasted(!) Ground-dove

Taxonomy: Columba erythroptera J. F. Gmelin, 1789, Moorea, Society Islands.
Forms a superspecies with G. jobiensis, G. kubaryi and G. xanthonura; this group also has somewhat more distant affinities with G. stairi, G. sanctaecrucis and G. salamonis. White-headed males, known from eight islands in N & C Tuamotu Archipelago, have been accorded subspecific recognition by some authorities as race “pectoralis”; however, all males in population recently discovered on Rangiroa Atoll (N Tuamotus) are grey-headed birds; previously only white-headed males had been recorded in this part of the archipelago; taxonomic statu.. View all taxonomy...

Distribution: Tuamotu Archipelago, where known to survive only on uninhabited atolls, in NW on Rangiroa (Palliser Is) and in SE on Maria and Matureivavao (Actaeon Group). Formerly more widespread through Tuamotus (Aratika, Vanavana, Tenararo, Tenarunga), and also occurred on Moorea and Tahiti in Society Is.