Barking imperial pigeon

Barking imperial pigeon
On Viti Levu
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Genus:	Ducula
Species:	D. latrans
Binomial name
Ducula latrans (Peale, 1849)

The barking imperial pigeon (Ducula latrans), also known as Peale's imperial pigeon, is a species of bird in the pigeon family Columbidae. It is endemic to Fiji, where it occurs on most of the medium and large islands. ^{[2] [3]}

Its natural habitats are mature tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forest. The species is one of two imperial-pigeons found in Fiji; the other, the Pacific imperial pigeon, is found on smaller islands.^{[ citation needed ]}

Description

The barking imperial pigeon is frugivorous, feeding on large fruits of the trees Cananga , Didymocheton , and Myristica (nutmegs). It feeds alone or in pairs, occasionally occurring in small flocks on fruiting trees. The breeding season of this species is from May to January, with a single egg being laid on an insubstantial twig nest. These birds are typically 40-44cm. The upper parts of this bird are grey. The upper wings and upper tail are a darker shade of brown. It has a black bill and the eyes are purple and red. Additionally, the bird got its name because it known to make loud barking "u-oo" in long series. Also, they make a "raa" noise. These calling are often associated with mating. Due to human hunting and interference the habitat for this bird is being put in danger and there has been a decline in the population of these birds! ^{[2] [3] [4]}

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Ducula latrans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016 e.T22691739A93323067. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22691739A93323067.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. Mahler, Bettina; Araujo, Lidia S.; Tubaro, Pablo L. (2003). "Dietary and Sexual Correlates of Carotenoid Pigment Expression in Dove Plumage". The Condor. 105 (2): 258–267. doi: 10.1093/condor/105.2.258 . JSTOR   1370545.
3. Wragg, Graham M.; Worthy, T.H. (January 2006). "A new species of extinct imperial pigeon (Ducula: Columbidae) from Henderson Island, Pitcairn Group". Historical Biology. 18 (2): 131–144. Bibcode:2006HBio...18..131W. doi:10.1080/08912960600640853. S2CID   83945006.
4. Cibois, Alice; Thibault, Jean-Claude; Bonillo, Céline; Filardi, Christopher E.; Pasquet, Eric (May 2017). "Phylogeny and biogeography of the imperial pigeons (Aves: Columbidae) in the Pacific Ocean". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 110: 19–26. Bibcode:2017MolPE.110...19C. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.02.016. PMID   28249741.