White-throated Ground Dove Paluman Apåka' (male) / Paluman Fachi' (female)
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White-throated Ground Dove Paluman Apåka' (male) / Paluman Fachi' (female)
Gallicolomba xanthonura
Endangered Species Native Species
Extinct on Guam
The White-throated Ground-Dove could once be recognized by its low moaning cry, which was heard early in the morning or late afternoon.
The male dove, or "paluman apåka' ", which means white bird in Chamoru, had a chocolate brown body and wings. It got its name from its white head and breast. Female doves had shades of brown with no white. Males and female doves looked so different that Chamorus called the female "paluman fache' ". Fache' is the Chamoru word for mud or muddy.
The males were aggressive and would fight another male by attacking its head and neck. Sometimes they fell through the trees as they fought. After they had regained their dignity, the males pranced about flapping their wings and puffing out their chests. They would fight until one male won a waiting female. Paluman apåka' and paluman fache' ate small berries, fruit, seeds and flowers while perched in the branches of trees. A male and female built their nest high in a tall tree and both helped incubate the eggs. Young ground-doves were fed "pigeon's milk" until they were almost as large as their parents.
Once common in Guam's limestone forests, the last dove sighting was in 1987. Predation by brown tree snakes was the main cause of their extinction on Guam. Because ground-doves still remain in the Northern Marianas, it may be possible to reintroduce them back into the wild on Guam if brown tree snakes can be controlled or eradicated.
Guam Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 9/27/2005
