ASPECTS OF MOULT, BREEDING, DIET AND BODY COMPOSITION OF FERAL PIGEON COLUMBA LIVIA AND SPOTTED DOVE STREPTOPELIA CHINENSIS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

A general study of various aspects of the moult, breeding, body composition and diet of two species of doves, Feral Pigeon Columba livia and Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis was conducted. Moulting was observed to occur throughout the year for C. Livia and statistics reveal no difference between monthly data. In S. chinensis, there appears to be a decrease in the percentage of moulting in the beginning of the year which may be due to the effects of increased rainfall density that time of the year. Breeding occurs throughout the year for C. livia and the data suggest that individual males remain in a state of continuous breeding throughout the year. In S. chinensis, there is a trend towards a peak in breeding in the middle of the year and a decrease towards the end of the year. TI1is is speculated to coincide with the intermonsoon periods when food supply is more abundant. In body composition studies of C. Livia, females utilise lipid reserves from a pre-laying to laying condition; they also appear to accumulate lipids in the pre-laying state. Reasons are speculated for the changes. There are no significant changes in protein in the laying cycle. Male C. livia do not show any changes in body composition from non-breeding to post-breeding status. Moulting and non-moulting individuals of both sexes do not demonstrate any significant differences in body composition. The natural diet of the two species are also listed and any observable trends discussed.