Common Name: Maroon Pigeon
Scientific Name: Columba thomensis

Distribution: Endemic to the island of São Tomé, in the Gulf of Guinea where it can be found in the mature deciduous forest.

Biology: The Maroon pigeon is the largest and rarest of the two species of columbiform endemic to the island, the other one being the Sao Tome Green-pigeon.
The species is a typical forest bird and like other representatives from the genus it is herbivorous, feeding on the fruit and leaves of trees in the lush rainforest on the island. The typically travel in pairs, but can on rare occasions congregate in larger groups of around 10 individual - a sight that used to be much more common in the past.

Like other avian island endemics the Maroon Pigeon exhibit a high degree of island tameness, being very easy to approach when feeding and roosting compared to their mainland relatives. Furthermore, the also occasionally feed rather low in the canopy, foraging for fruit in young trees closer to the ground.

The species is, unlike most other columbiforms, rather silent. Most often the only sound that observer will hear is their sound wing clatter as the birds take off and land. However they also emit a low growling song, that is noticeable at close range.

IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered

The Maroon Pigeon is, like many of the other bird species endemic to Sao Tome, an endangered species, with hunting being the main threat to this species. As mentioned the pigeon is quite tame, which allow hunters to quite easily take several birds once their roosting and foraging sites have been located. The species used to be common even in the lowlands along the coast of the entire island, but now it is restricted to higher altitudes at most places, most commonly in the southern part of the island where more of the original forest is still intact.
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