Article Nº 2926 Bird Vol. III · p. 161
Trocaz pigeon (Columba trocaz)
Original title: Pombo Torcaz (Columba trocaz)
The endemic Trocaz pigeon of Madeira's interior valleys, feeding on laurel berries and prized for its meat.
A bird of the family Columbidae that lives mainly in the interior valleys of Madeira. It is easy to recognise by the silvery ring on its neck and by the length of the middle toe. Its chief food consists of laurel berries, grasses, watercress, etc. It nests from February to June and is sometimes offered for sale in the Funchal market. Its meat is of excellent quality. Because of the colour of its plumage, the pombo torcaz is also known as pombo escuro da serra and pombo preto.
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