On the natural history of West African Rock Dove Columba gymnocycla

Named in 1856, West African Rock Dove Columba livia gymnocycla differs markedly in appearance from other Rock Dove subspecies. Recent DNA analyses have revealed that gymnocycla is also genetically very different from Columba livia, warranting species status for this taxon. The species was never abundant in its small distribution, and only a small number of specimens are present in museum collections. A search for the species in Senegambia in 2024 was unsuccessful and C. gymnocycla may have already vanished from much or all of its distribution.