Elegant imperial pigeon

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Elegant imperial pigeon
Ducula concinna concinna qtl1.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Ducula
Species:
D. concinna
Binomial name
Ducula concinna
(Wallace, 1865)

The elegant imperial pigeon (Ducula concinna), also known as blue-tailed imperial-pigeon, is a large pigeon, with upperparts mainly dark blue-green in colour with an iridescent sheen. Head, neck and underparts are mostly pale grey, with red-brown undertail coverts.

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

The elegant imperial pigeon was originally described as Carpophaga concinna by Alfred Russel Wallace in 1865 based on specimens from the Watubela Islands. [2]

Description

The elegant imperial pigeon is a large pigeon, measuring 43 cm (17 in) in length. The head, neck, and upper back are pale grey, with a pink tinge on the nape and back of the crown. The rest of the upperparts are shimmering dark green, while the top of the tail is purplish-blue, sometimes appearing black. The underparts are pale grey with a pink tinge, while the undertail coverts are reddish-brown. The undersides of the tail and wing are black. The bill is black or bluish-grey, with a ring of white feathers at its base, the iris is golden, and the feet are pinkish-red to crimson. Both sexes are similar, but females have darker grey and pink colours. Juveniles are duller than adults. [3]

Vocalisations

The elegant imperial pigeon's call is a loud, throaty, barking urrauw, made at variable intervals. These are interspersed with low-pitched, loud, upslurred growls. These growls are often produced after another individual has given the bark. [3]

Distribution and habitat

The elegant imperial pigeon inhabits small islands in Wallacea and off New Guinea. It has been recorded from the Talaud Islands, Sangihe, islands off southern Sulawesi, the southern Maluku Islands, and the eastern Lesser Sundas from Romang to Tanimbar, east up to the Aru Islands. Vagrants have also been recorded from Buru and Darwin, Australia. [3]

The elegant imperial pigeon inhabits primary forest, secondary forest, forest edge, and trees in cultivated areas. It mostly inhabits lowlands, but is sometimes found up to elevations of 850 m (2,790 ft). [3]

Behaviour and ecology

The elegant imperial pigeon is thought to migrate between small islands to look for food. One vagrant observed in Australia may have reached there with migrating Torresian imperial pigeons. [3]

Diet

The elegant imperial pigeon feeds on fruit, and has been recorded feeding on young coconut fruit, Ficus figs, Canarium species, Gnetum gnemon , fish poison trees (Barringtonia asiatica), Moluccan albizia (Falcataria moluccana), Bornean ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri), and Indonesian mahogany (Toona sureni). A vagrant in Australia was also observed feeding on banyan and palm trees. Foraging flocks can contain up to 40 birds. [3]

Breeding

On Damar, nest-building was observed in August, when two nests were found at heights of 25–30 m (82–98 ft) in primary evergreen forest. [3]

Related Research Articles

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The pied imperial pigeon is a relatively large, pied species of pigeon. It is found in forest, woodland, mangrove, plantations and scrub in Southeast Asia, ranging from Myanmar and Thailand, throughout Indonesia and east to the Philippines and the Bird's Head Peninsula in New Guinea. It is mainly found on small islands and in coastal regions. It remains locally common, and is therefore considered to be of least concern by BirdLife International and IUCN.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallace's fruit dove</span> Species of pigeon endemic to Indonesia

Wallace's fruit dove is a species of bird in the pigeon family Columbidae. The name commemorates the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. It is a rather large, long-tailed fruit dove with a length of 24–28 cm (9.4–11.0 in) and has been described as "one of the most beautiful" fruit doves. The forehead and crown are dull crimson, the lower face and throat are white, and the rest of the head, breast, neck, and upper back are pale bluish-grey. The wings and lower back are green and the belly is orange, separated from the chest by a white band. Both sexes look similar, but females have less extensive red on the head and a greenish tinge to their grey parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collared imperial pigeon</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas imperial pigeon</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pale-capped pigeon</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polynesian imperial pigeon</span> Species of bird

The Polynesian imperial pigeon or Society Islands pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imperial pigeon</span> Genus of birds

Ducula is a genus of the pigeon family Columbidae, collectively known as imperial pigeons. They are large to very large pigeons with a heavy build and medium to long tails. They are arboreal, feed mainly on fruit and are closely related to the other genus of fruit-eating doves, Ptilinopus. Both genera display brightly coloured plumage, predominantly green, often with contrasting under-parts of purple, orange or red. Some Ducula have prominently swollen ceres. They have large gapes and swallow seeds whole, playing an important role in seed dispersal.

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References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Ducula concinna". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22691653A93319752. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22691653A93319752.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Wallace, Alfred R. (1865). "On the Pigeons of the Malay Archipelago". Ibis. 7 (4): 383–384. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1865.tb06057.x. ISSN   0019-1019 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Baptista, Luis F.; Trail, Pepper W.; Horblit, H.M.; Garcia, Ernest (2020-03-04). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Elegant Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula concinna)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.elipig1.01 . Retrieved 2021-11-25.