Tawitawi Brown Dove (Phapitreron cinereiceps)

About the Tawitawi Brown Dove

The Tawitawi brown dove (Phapitreron cinereiceps), also dark-eared brown dove, is a threatened species of bird in the family Columbidae noted for its orange-peach breast. It is endemic to forests in the Sulu Archipelago (islands of Tawi-Tawi and Sanga-Sanga) in the Philippines. Until recently it was considered conspecific with the Mindanao brown dove and collectively called the dark-eared brown dove. Although threatened by habitat loss, the rate of loss significantly reduced from 2004 to 2007, and it was thus downlisted from Critically Endangered to Endangered status in the 2007 IUCN Red List. It was formerly conspecific with the Mindanao brown dove but differs greatly in plumage and voice. This species has a gray crown, an orange belly and a light brown vent and undertail.