Pombo Torcaz (Columba trocaz)

A bird of the Columbidae family that mainly lives in the valleys of the interior of Madeira. It is easily recognizable by the silver circle on its neck and the length of its middle toe. Its main diet consists of laurel berries, grasses, watercress, etc. It nests from February to June and sometimes appears for sale in the Funchal market. Its meat is of excellent quality. The trocaz pigeon is also known by the names dark mountain pigeon and black pigeon, due to the color of its plumage.