Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

Zenaida galapagoensis Gould, 1841

Tórtola de Galápagos, Paloma de Galápagos, Galapagos Dove

Zenaida galapagoensis Gould, 1841 (Isla Pinta) Photo: Ruben Heleno, CDF, 2010.
Zenaida galapagoensis Gould, 1841 (Isla Pinta) Photo: Ruben Heleno, CDF, 2010.

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Animalia

Phylum
Chordata

Class
Aves

Order
Columbiformes

Family
Columbidae

Genus
Zenaida

Species
galapagoensis

Taxon category: Accepted

Syn.: Zenaida galapagoensis galapagoensis Gould, 1841; Zenaida galapagoensis exsul (Rothschild & Hartert, 1899)

Origin: Endemic

Status

Near threatened

Distribution

Distribution: Present on all the main islands, but uncommon on the four inhabited islands.

References

  • Alatalo, R. V. (1982) Bird Species Distributions in the Galapagos, Ecuador, and Other Archipelagoes: Competition Or Chance?. Ecology 63 (4): 881-887
  • Amadon, D. (1965) Notes on the Galapagos hawk. L'Oiseau Revue Française Ornithologie 35 (Spécial).
  • Bisconti, M. Landini, W., Bianucci, G., Cantalamessa, G., Carnevale, G. Ragaini, L. & Valleri, G. (2001) Biogeographic relationships of the Galapagos terrestrial biota: parsimony analyses of endemicity based on reptiles, land birds and Scalesia land plants. J. Biogeogr. 28: 495-510.
  • Coloma, A. Pike, C., Anchundia, D., Piedrahita, P., Pike, C. & Fessl, B. (2020) Observations on the nesting of the Galapagos Dove Zenaida galapagoensis in Galapagos, Ecuador. Galapagos Research 69: 34-38.
  • Dvorak, M. Nemeth, E., Wendelin, B., Herrera, P., Mosquera, D., Anchundia, D., Sevilla, C., Tebbich, S. and Fessl, B. (2017) Conservation status of landbirds on Floreana: the smallest inhabited Galápagos Island. Journal of Field Ornithology 88(2): 132-145. Doi: 10.1111/jofo.12197.
  • Freile, J.F. Santander, T., Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G., Carrasco, L., Cisneros-Heredia, D., Guevara, E., Sánchez-Nivicela, M., Tinoco, B. (2019) Lista Roja de las aves del Ecuador Quito, Ecuador. 97 pp.
  • Granizo, T. Pacheco, C., Rivadeneira, M. B., Guerrero M. & Suárez, L. (eds.) (2002) Libro Rojo de las Aves del Ecuador. SIMBIOE/Conservation International/EcoCiencia/Ministerio del Ambiente/IUCN. Serie Libros Rojos del Ecuador, tomo 2. Quito, Ecuador.
  • Harmon, W.M. Clark, W.A., Hawbecker, A.C. & Stafford, M. (1987) Trichomonas gallinae in columbiform birds from the Galápagos Islands. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 23(3): 492-494.
  • Hickin, N. (1979) Animal life of the Galapagos. Ferundune Books, Faringdon, U.K., 236 pp.
  • Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G. Milstead, B., Márquez, C., Zabala, J., Buitrón, P., Llerena, A., et al. (2007) Galapagos vertebrates: endangered status and conservation actions. Galapagos Report 2006–2007. Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, p. 104–110.
  • Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G. Betancourt, F. (2008) Avifauna vs automotores. Informe Galápagos 2007-2008. FCD, PNG & INGALA. Puerto Ayora, Ecuador. p. 111–114.
  • Kleindorfer, S. Dudaniec, R.Y. (2006) Increasing prevalence of avian poxvirus in Darwin’s finches and its effect on male pairing success. Journal of Avian Biology 37: 69-76.
  • McQuistion, T.E. (1991) Eimeria palumbi, a New Coccidian Parasite (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Galapagos Dove (Zenaida galapagoensis). Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 110(2): 178-181.
  • Padilla, L.R. Whiteman, N.K., Merkel, J., Huyvaert, K.P. & Parker, P.G. (2006) Health assessment of seabirds on Isla Genovesa, Galápagos Islands. Ornithological Monographs 60: 86-97.
  • Padilla, L.R. Santiago-Alarcon, D., Merkel, J., Miller, R.E. & Parker, P.G. (2004) Survey for Haemoproteus spp., Trichomonas gallinae, Chlamydophila psittaci, and Salmonella spp. in Galapagos Islands Columbiformes. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 35(1): 60–64.
  • Parker, P.G. Whiteman, N.K., & Miller, R.E. (2006) Conservation medicine on the Galápagos Islands: partnerships among behavioral, population, and veterinarian scientists. The Auk 123(3): 625-638.
  • Rothschild, W. Hartert, E. & Jordan, K. (1899) A review of the ornithology of the Galapagos Islands with notes on the Webster-Harris Expedition. Novitates Zoologicae 6(2): 85-286.
  • Salvin, O. (1876) On the avifauna of the Galápagos Archipelago. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 9: 447-510.
  • Santiago-Alarcon, D. Whiteman, N.K., Parker, P.G., Ricklefs, R.E. & Valkiūnas, G. (2008) Patterns of parasite abundance and distribution in island populations of Galápagos endemic birds. Journal of Parasitology 94(3): 584–590.
  • Santiago-Alarcon, D. Outlaw, D.C., Ricklefs, R.E. & Parker, P.G. (2010) Phylogenetic relationships of haemosporidian parasites in New World Columbiformes, with emphasis on the endemic Galapagos dove. International Journal for Parasitology 40: 463–470.
  • Sundevall, C.J. (1871) On birds from the Galápagos Islands. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1871: 124-129.
  • Swarth, H.S. (1931) The Avifauna of the Galapagos Islands. Occ. Pap. Calif. Acad. Sci. 18: 1-299.
  • Whiteman, N.K. Santiago-Alarcon, D. (2004) Differences in straggling rates between two genera of dove lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) reinforce population genetic and cophylogenetic patterns. International Journal for Parasitology 34: 1113-1119.
  • Wiedenfeld, D.A. (2006) Aves, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Check List 2006 2(2): 1-27.

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This page should be cited as follows:

"Galapagos Species Database, Zenaida galapagoensis", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=5198. Accessed 22 December 2025.