Columbidae

Columba palumbus maderensis
Madeiran Wood Pigeon
Madeira Houtduif (Dutch)

ZMA 44210
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Extinct Subspecies A taxon once endemic for Madeira. Already rare by 1896-1906, when the ornithologist E. Schmitz lived on the island. Schmitz managed to collect only a few specimens and eggs despite great efforts (e.g., see Schmitz 1899). None was found in May 1924 (Meinertzhagen 1925), nor was any seen in later years, not even by local pigeon hunters, and probably it is extinct.

Items in the ZMA - 1 bird:
ZMA 44210 Adult female, 1 Jun 1904, Sao Vicente (32°48'N, 17°03'W), northern Madeira I., Portugal, coll. E. Schmitz, ex Snouckaert 4210, ex Sillem-Van Marle 4210, skin.

Remarks
The ssp. maderensis closely resembled nominate palumbus of Europe, but the plumage was somewhat darker, especially on the upperparts and under wing-coverts, while the vinous-pink of the breast was more extensive. Nominate palumbus is common and widespread in Europe and Asia Minor, the slightly brighter coloured excelsa is common in NW Africa. The subspecies casiotis with buff instead of white neck-patches is more local in the mountain-forest of W-C Asia, while the pale-billed iranica is restricted to mountains in Iran and the slightly duller azorica to the Azores.

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