Global Protection: Many to very many (13 to >40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed

Comments: This species occurs in many protected areas, including the Key Deer and Great White Heron national wildlife refuges and Everglades National Park, Florida, USA, which protects many small islands used for nesting. Foraging habitat is less well protected, though some occurs on federally and state-owned lands in Florida. The protected status of Everglades National Park has probably helped ensure the survival of white-crowned pigeons in south Florida by protecting both foraging and nesting habitats (Strong et al. 1991).

Migratory habits expose birds to different degrees of protection in various countries.

Needs: Protection needs include (1) protection of foraging and nesting habitat, including the discouragement of human and raccoon activity on mangrove nesting islands, (2) regulation of hunting and harvest pressure in Caribbean jurisdictions, and (3) in Florida, protection of poisonwood trees and the encouragement of blolly (Guapira) and strongbark (Bourreria ovata) in suburban areas as food sources (Bancroft 1992, Bancroft et al. 2000). In Florida, protection of large forest fragments, especially on southern Key Largo, should be a priority (Strong and Bancroft 1994).