Imperial pigeon

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Imperial pigeon
Ducula rufigaster -London Zoo -two-8a.jpg
Purple-tailed imperial pigeon (Ducula rufigaster), endemic to New Guinea
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Subfamily: Ptilinopinae
Genus: Ducula
Hodgson, 1836
Type species
Ducula insignis [1]
Hodgson, 1836

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. [2] They have large gapes and swallow seeds whole, playing an important role in seed dispersal. [3]

Contents

Imperial pigeons are found in forests of southern Asia, New Guinea, northern Australia and the Pacific islands. Many species are nomadic, travelling long distances to exploit seasonal fruit sources. Some undertake migrations and all are strong fliers. [2] Because of habitat loss and predation, species of Ducula are amongst the most threatened of avian species globally. [4]

Taxonomy

The genus Ducula was introduced in 1836 by the English naturalist Brian Houghton Hodgson with Ducula insignis as the type species. This taxon is now considered as a subspecies of the mountain imperial pigeon (Ducula badia). [5] [6] The genus name Ducula is from the Latin dux genitive ducis meaning "leader". [7]

The taxonomy of the imperial pigeon is unresolved, with the number of species within the genus Ducula reported variably as 34 [8] and 36. [9] [10] Derek Goodwin's 1959 paper on the taxonomy of the genus Ducula [9] divides his arrangement of 36 species into 7 subgroups according to distribution and phenotype. This classification is followed by Gibbs et al., [10] and followed here.

Species

The genus contains 42 species: [6]

SectionImageScientific nameDistribution
Poliocephala species-group Pink-Bellied Imperial Pigeon.jpg Ducula poliocephala (Gray, 1844) pink-bellied imperial pigeonPhilippines.
White-bellied Imperial Pigeon SMTC.jpg Ducula forsteni (Bonaparte, 1854) white-bellied imperial pigeonIndonesia (Sulawesi, Buton, Taliabu, Togian, and Peleng.)
CarpophagaMindorensisKeulemans.jpg Ducula mindorensis (Whitehead, 1896) Mindoro imperial pigeonPhilippines (Mindoro)
Ducula radiata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830) Grey-headed imperial pigeonIndonesia (Sulawesi)
Carola species-group Iconographie des pigeons (8100062636) (cropped).jpg Ducula carola (Gray, 1844) Spotted imperial pigeonPhilippines
Aenea species-group Green Imperial Pigeon RWD5a.jpg Ducula aenea (Linnaeus, 1766) Green imperial pigeonNepal, southern India and Sri Lanka eastwards to southern China, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Ducula oenothorax (Salvadori, 1892) Enggano imperial pigeonEnggano Island.
Ducula nicobarica (Pelzeln, 1865) Nicobar imperial pigeonNicobar Islands.
Carpophaga perspicillata - 1700-1880 - Print - Iconographia Zoologica - Special Collections University of Amsterdam - UBA01 IZ15600097.tif Ducula perspicillata (Temminck, 1824) Spectacled imperial pigeonMaluku Islands.
Ducula neglecta (Schlegel, 1866) Seram imperial pigeonMoluccas
Ducula concinna - Siau Island.JPG Ducula concinna (Wallace, 1865) Elegant imperial pigeonNew Guinea, 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.
Ducula pacifica 13238830.jpg Ducula pacifica (Gmelin, 1789) Pacific imperial pigeonAmerican Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna Islands.
Ducula oceanica townsendi 39750206.jpg Ducula oceanica (Desmarest, 1826) Micronesian imperial pigeonPalau, the Caroline Islands, the Marshall Islands and Nauru.
Polynesian Imperial Pigeon.jpg Ducula aurorae (Peale, 1848) Polynesian imperial pigeonFrench Polynesia.
Ducula galeata Nuku Hiva.jpg Ducula galeata (Bonaparte, 1855) Marquesan imperial pigeonNuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia.
Pigeon of Stewart's Isld and San Christoval (48752852697).jpg Ducula rubricera (Bonaparte, 1854) Red-knobbed imperial pigeonBismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands archipelago.
Ducula myristicivora (Scopoli, 1786) Spice imperial pigeonIndonesia
Ducula geelvinkiana Schlegel, 1873 Geelvink imperial pigeon [11] Indonesia's Schouten Islands
Ducula rufigaster (13004532433).jpg Ducula rufigaster (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830) Purple-tailed imperial pigeonNew Guinea.
Ducula basilica.jpg Ducula basilica Bonaparte, 1854 Cinnamon-bellied imperial pigeonMoluccas.
Ducula finschii (Ramsay, 1882) Finsch's imperial pigeonPapua New Guinea.
Ducula chalconota (Salvadori, 1874) Rufescent imperial pigeonNew Guinea.
Ducula pistrinaria rhodinolaema.jpg Ducula pistrinaria Bonaparte, 1855 Island imperial pigeonBismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands archipelago
Pink-headed Imperial Pigeon (8074116303) (cropped).jpg Ducula rosacea (Temminck, 1835) Pink-headed imperial pigeonLesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia
Ducula whartoni.jpg Ducula whartoni (Sharpe, 1887) Christmas imperial pigeonChristmas Island
GREY IMPERIAL PIGEON.jpg Ducula pickeringii (Cassin, 1854) Grey imperial pigeonSulu Archipelago, Miangas and Talaud Islands
Barking Pigeon (31941958135).jpg Ducula latrans (Peale, 1848) Barking imperial pigeonFiji
Brenchleyi species-group Ducula brenchleyi (Gray, 1870) Chestnut-bellied imperial pigeonSolomon Islands.
Ducula bakeri (Kinnear, 1928) Vanuatu imperial pigeonVanuatu
Notou.jpg Ducula goliath (Gray, 1859) Goliath imperial pigeonNew Caledonia.
Ducula pinon (Pinon Imperial-pigeon)8.jpg Ducula pinon (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) Pinon's imperial pigeonNew Guinea.
CarpophagaMelanochroaSmit.jpg Ducula melanochroa (Sclater, 1878) Black imperial pigeonBismarck Archipelago
Ducula mullerii -San Diego Zoo, Florida, USA-8a.jpg Ducula mullerii (Temminck, 1835) Collared imperial pigeonNew Guinea
Zoe's imperial pigeon Ducula zoeae-20051003.jpg Ducula zoeae (Lesson, 1826) Zoe's imperial pigeonNew Guinea.
Badia species group Mountain Imperial Pigeon.jpg Ducula cuprea (Jerdon, 1840) Malabar imperial pigeonWestern Ghats of India.
Mountain Imperial Pigeon Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary West Bengal India 09.05.2016.jpg Ducula badia (Raffles, 1822) Mountain imperial pigeonBangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam
Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon.jpg Ducula lacernulata (Temminck, 1823) Dark-backed imperial pigeonLesser Sunda Islands.
Carpophaga cineracea - 1700-1880 - Print - Iconographia Zoologica - Special Collections University of Amsterdam - UBA01 IZ15600113.tif Ducula cineracea (Temminck, 1835) Timor imperial pigeonTimor and Wetar.
Bicolor species-group Ducula bicolor - Chinese Garden.jpg Ducula bicolor (Scopoli, 1786) Pied imperial pigeonMyanmar and Thailand, throughout Indonesia and east to the Philippines and the Bird's Head Peninsula in New Guinea.
Sulawesi trsr DSCN0750 v1.JPG Ducula luctuosa (Temminck, 1825) Silver-tipped imperial pigeonSulawesi
Torresian imperial pigeon cairns09.JPG Ducula spilorrhoa (Gray, 1858) Torresian imperial pigeonAustralia (north-east Western Australia, north Northern Territory and north Queensland, including the Torres Strait Islands), New Guinea, Aru Islands, islands in the Geelvink Bay, D'Entrecasteaux Islands and Louisiade Archipelago.
Ducula subflavescens (Finsch, 1886) Yellowish imperial pigeonBismarck Archipelago.
Ducula salvadorii (Tristram, 1881) Louisiade imperial pigeonPapua New Guinea.


A new extinct species was described in a 2020 study of prehistoric avifaunas from the Kingdom of Tonga: [12]

Description

Poliocephala species-group

White-bellied imperial pigeon (D. forsteni) showing distinctive hood White-bellied Imperial Pigeon SMTC.jpg
White-bellied imperial pigeon (D. forsteni) showing distinctive hood

Four species of imperial pigeon are found in Philippines and Sulawesi. All have a distinct pale band across the centre of the tail, and a rich green or purple dorsum. [2] This grouping shares characteristics and distribution with Ptilinopus, and forms a link between the genera. The pink-belled ( D. poliocephala ) and the white-bellied ( D. forsteni ) imperial pigeon are similar and allopatric species. The Mindoro ( D. mindorensis ) and the grey-headed ( D. radiata ) imperial pigeons differ in size but are otherwise similar. [10]

Carola species-group

The spotted imperial pigeon ( D. carola ) is sympatric to D. poliocephala, and though smaller, short tailed and with spotted plumage, it is similar enough in appearance and distribution to suggest the taxa are related. [9] [10]

Aenea species-group

The Marquesan imperial pigeon (D. galeata) showing prominent pale cere Ducula galeata Nuku Hiva.jpg
The Marquesan imperial pigeon (D. galeata) showing prominent pale cere

This group's nominate species is the green imperial pigeon ( D. aenea ), distinctive by its iridescent green, purple or bronze upper-parts and wings. The species-group is widespread through the Asia-Pacific. It is further separated into subgroups by Goodwin.

Brenchleyi species-group

The collared imperial pigeon (D. mullerii) showing distinctive black collar Ducula mullerii mullerii qtl2.jpg
The collared imperial pigeon (D. mullerii) showing distinctive black collar

Contains 4 subgroups of large dark chestnut-bellied pigeons.

Zoe's imperial pigeon

D. zoeae of Indonesia and New Guinea, is sufficiently distinct in colour to be placed in a species-group of its own.

Badia species group

Bicolor species-group

Pied imperial pigeon (D. bicolor) Pied Imperial Pigeon, Ducula bicolor bicolor.jpg
Pied imperial pigeon (D. bicolor)

The pied imperial pigeons form a discrete group of large white pigeons with black wingtips, found in New Guinea and its islands, and northern Australia. Goodwin recognised three species; the pied ( D. bicolor ) the white ( D. luctuosa ) and the Torresian ( D. spilorrhoa ). [2] The three allopatric species are closely related and subsequent authors have challenged this ranking, Johnstone including all three in a single species. [13] Gibbs et al. group D. bicolor and D. spilorrhoa together, but adds the yellow-tinted imperial pigeon ( D. subflavescens ) as another species. [10] Frith includes D. subflavescens as a race of D. spilorrhoa. [14] Sibley and Monroe (1990) follow Goodwin. [8]

The difficulty in assigning or removing species rank is compounded by the lack of data on behaviour and breeding patterns of the taxa. [9] [15] Similar species are allopatric, and there is no data on whether the species freely interbreed or not. Data on voice and behaviour is similarly poor. [2] [10]

The confusion is not helped by English naming. D. bicolor is variously described as the nutmeg pigeon, the Torres Strait pigeon, and the pied imperial pigeon. D. spilorrhoa is also described as the nutmeg pigeon, the white nutmeg pigeon, the Australian pied pigeon, the Australian pied imperial pigeon, the Torres Strait pigeon or the Torresian imperial pigeon. [14]

Distribution and habitat

Imperial pigeons are only found in southern Asia, Australia, New Guinea and the Pacific, a distribution from the Himalayas (D. badia) to Tahiti in the South Pacific (D. aurorare). The greatest diversity of birds is in New Guinea. Imperial pigeons are strong fliers, are capable of flight over oceans, and have been successful in colonising islands and archipelagos. [10]

Australia has a poor representation of Ducula amongst its fauna, with only one species breeding on the mainland (D. spilorrhoa). [14] There is no clear explanation why more species of Ducula did not cross the Torres Strait islands to reach mainland Australia. The genus Lopholaimus , comprising only one species may have been well represented on the Australian mainland before European settlement, thus excluding Ducula. [2]

Imperial pigeons are arboreal, and found almost exclusively in forest and woodland habitats where there is availability of fruit bearing trees. About half of the species occupy mountainous forest to elevations of 2500m. Many are found on islands, and live in coastal forests, with a few species inhabiting forest edges or mangroves. [8]

Appearance

Tropical species of pigeons can display a rich variety of colour, presumably to facilitate species recognition. [9] The plumage of the seed-eating genera of Columbidae is more often dull brown or grey. Typically imperial pigeons have dark dorsum and wings, ranging from grey to iridescent green. Their breasts are paler, ranging in colour from grey through orange and pink to dark grey. Less conspicuous markings are found on birds isolated to islands. [9] Most species display little or no sexual dimorphism. [10]

Imperial pigeons are large to very large pigeons; typical length is 35 to 45 cm, and they have medium to long tails. The critically endangered Marquesan imperial pigeon is 50 cm long and is the largest arboreal pigeon in the family Columbidae. [16]

Fat quills are present in D. bicolor and D. spilorrhoa. Fat quills are modified feathers that produce a lipoid substance that is used in a similar way to the secretions of the preen gland. Fat quills are found around the rump of D. bicolor and in other Columbidae species. [17] [18] [19] Preening with the yellow coloured lipid causes variations in colour of the head and shoulders of D. bicolor, ranging from cream to yellow. Colouration differs between individuals and the stage of molt, deeper colouring found just prior to molt, leading to some confusion in identifying taxa. The function of the fat quills is debatable, with suggestions of a sexual signal, [20] an antibacterial, or as an olfactory signal. [19] Yellow lipoid substance can be expressed from the base of a broken rachis [17]

Behaviour

There is a paucity of information on most species of Ducula, many of which are shy and live in remote areas, making observation difficult. Breeding and nesting behaviour of species has been poorly documented. [2] [10] Though large and numerous, birds can be inconspicuous, feeding quietly in deep foliage. [14]

Ducula are highly mobile and can travel large distances to find fruit. [21] [22] They are strong fliers and able to fly between islands to exploit erratic food sources. Small islands whose flora would be unable to sustain a long term population can provide a temporary food source for nomadic birds. [10] Crome has documented daily flights of more than 32 km from island roosts to the mainland. [23]

Some species live singly or in pairs, but many are highly social, forming flocks of 30 to 50 birds. [10] Pied imperial pigeons favour off shore islands or mangroves for breeding sites. D. spilorrhoa forms large colonies on the Queensland coast, flying to fruit bearing forests during the day and roosting together at night. Low Isles in North Queensland hosted 20,000 to 25,000 birds in the 1971–1973 breeding seasons. [23] A volunteer based count in December 2014 reported a similar number of over 22,000 pied imperial pigeons (pipwatch.net). An anecdotal report from 1908 describes flocks of 100,000 D. spilorrhoa flying from the mainland to their roosting sites on Dunk Island, North Queensland. [24]

Pigeons drink by a pumping or sucking mechanism that allows them to drink with their beak continuously immersed in water. [25] Fruit eating pigeons may utilize water from their diet and have less water requirements than other pigeons. [2]

Diet

Imperial pigeons are arboreal, living in forests and mangroves that can supply seasonal fruit from tropical trees, palms, vines and bushes. Most birds clamber through twigs and branches of canopy, leaning or hanging upside down to reach fruit. Fruit is twisted off stems with their bill and swallowed whole. They are able to extend their gapes to 40mm in order to swallow large fruits. [2] [26] D. galeata can swallow seeds of 70mm. Their diet can be supplemented with flowers, leaves and insects. [16] [23]

In contrast to seed-eating pigeons, Ducula have thin-walled gizzards and short wide guts, allowing large seeds to pass through. [22] [27] [28] After digesting the fleshy parts, they void the seeds intact, thus playing an important role as seed dispersers. [10]

Other genera of Columbidae have grinding gizzards which either destroy seeds, or regurgitate larger seeds. Some large seeded fruits are eaten by both Nicobar pigeons (Colaenesa nicobarica) and imperial pigeons, with the former destroying seeds and the latter excreting them intact . [2] [22]

Imperial pigeons are amongst the largest frugivores in the forest, and can disperse seeds from fruit too large for most other species to handle. A fruit size of 30 mm would exclude all vertebrates other than hornbills ( Bucerotidae ) and Ducula. [22] Medium-sized pigeons tend to feed on medium-sized fruit, while larger pigeons feed on larger fruit. [29] Pacific pigeons (D. pacifica) are shown to be excellent seed dispersers in Tonga and are thus critical in the management of forests throughout their habitat. [28]

Reproduction

Imperial pigeons construct somewhat flimsy nests of loosely woven twigs placed in the fork of a tree. Species that roost in mangroves construct more substantial nests from mangrove shoots. [14] They generally lay a single egg with a relatively short incubation period. Both sexes share incubation and care of nestlings. [2] Ducula, typical of most pigeons, produce a nutritiously rich crop milk which allows the chicks to rapidly fledge and leave the nest, reducing their period of vulnerability. The breeding cycle is short, allowing several broods to be reared in succession over an extended summer breeding season. [10]

Crop milk is a thick cheesy substance, derived from squamous cells sloughed off from the crop of both male and female pigeons which promotes a high growth rate in squabs. There are no studies of the composition of crop milk specific to Ducula. However, in domestic pigeons (Columba livia), the crop milk is found to contain lipids, proteins and enzymes, [30] and also facilitates the transfer of maternal antibodies to squabs, as in mammals. [31] The hypertrophy of crop tissue and production of crop milk is determined by the hormone prolactin, as in mammals. [30]

An abundance of fruit is important to the breeding success of frugivorous birds. Large breeding colonies require unexploited forest to provide fruit bearing trees for daily feeding. [32]

Voice

Variable between species, but ranging from typical 'coo' and 'coo-woo' of other pigeon families, to resonant 'whoops', [15] abrupt booming calls or barking notes, to disyllabic deep booming calls. [32]

Migration

Columbidae are generally strong fliers and effective colonisers, being able to make across ocean flights to access seasonal fruit supplies. [32] D. bicolor is partly migratory, its distribution changing according to food availability. [15]

Ecology and conservation

About one third of extant pigeons in the family Columbidae are endangered to a greater or lesser degree, making the family one of the most threatened in the world. Asia, Australasia and Oceania are home to nearly two-thirds of extant species of Columbidae, but three quarters of those species are threatened. [4] [10]

The greatest threats to Columbidae species is habitat loss and degradation, hunting by man, and alien predators. [4] Other threats include disease and possible competition from introduced species. [16] Large flocks of Ducula are mobile and able to exploit large areas for food sources, but are nevertheless vulnerable to large scale loss of forests.

Pigeons are exploited by man for food and sport. Hunting of D. spillorhoa on the Australian mainland has reduced populations. [2] [14] Hunting for food remains a problem in Asia and the Pacific as Columbidae provides a palatable source of protein. [4] Historically, human habitation has been associated with extinctions. [33]

Many species of Ducula live on forested islands in the Indian Ocean, SE Asian archipelagos and on Pacific and Australasian islands. Island species are particularly vulnerable as highly specialised populations, ill-prepared for introduced predators such as cats, rats and stoats. [34]

One of the most threatened species of Ducula is the Marquesan imperial pigeon (D. galeata) whose numbers have been reduced from 250 individuals in 1998 to fewer than 100 birds in 2000. A translocation programme has been initiated, increasing the number of islands in which D. galeata has a breeding colony. [16]

Frugivorous pigeons play an important role in seed dispersal and the preservation of tropical forest diversity. [4] [27] Population loss may have a detrimental effect on fauna of a region, especially when deforestation by logging leaves large cleared areas needing rehabilitation. [35] [36]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbidae</span> Family of birds

Columbidae is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily feed on plants, and can be taxonomically divided amongst granivores, that feed mostly on the ground on seeds, and frugivores, that feed mostly on fruits, from branches. The family occurs worldwide, often in close proximity with humans, but the greatest variety is in the Indomalayan and Australasian realms.

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

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.

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

The collared imperial pigeon is a large pigeon native to New Guinea and adjacent islands.

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

The Christmas imperial pigeon or Christmas Island imperial pigeon, also known as Black imperial pigeon, Dusky imperial pigeon, Wharton's imperial pigeon, or burong pergam, is a large imperial pigeon endemic to Christmas Island in the northeastern Indian Ocean. It has an overall grey-blue colouration, and juveniles are duller than adults. It makes a soft purring coo sound and a deeper whoo sound comparable to a cow mooing. It lays one glossy white egg per brood, and is possibly somewhat colonial.

<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.

The Rufescent Imperial Pigeon, also known as the Shining Imperial Pigeon, is a rare species in the world of birds. According to The International Union for Conservative, this species is relatively unknown, and their concern is very minimal. The Union describes that this species is very stable and does not encounter threats from other species The trait of stability is vital in differentiating The Rufescent Imperial Pigeon from the other species confronting threats. This bird in specific does not frequently encounter threats because they are more reserved, quiet birds that tend to remain alone in their habitat. The habitat of these birds allows them to have the frequency of being independent but also gives them the chance to be with other birds. Rooting from the bird family in Columbidae, that also consists of pigeons and doves. In which this family is known for being frugivorous, meaning it primarily feeds on fruit, figs, and seeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-bellied imperial pigeon</span> Species of bird from Indonesia

The white-bellied imperial pigeon is a species of bird in the pigeon family Columbidae. First described by the French ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1854, it is endemic to Indonesia, where it is found on Sulawesi, Buton, Taliabu, Togian, and Peleng. It inhabits primary forest, dense secondary forest, and isolated areas of hill forest. A large pigeon with a long tail, it measures 42.5–51.5 cm (16.7–20.3 in) long and weighs 510 g (18 oz) on average. Males are mainly green, with pale-grey heads and bellies, chestnut vents, and a pale grey tail band, along with a red orbital ring. Females are nearly identical, but have darker grey areas in their plumage.

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

The barking imperial pigeon, 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.

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

The silver-tipped imperial pigeon, also known as the white imperial pigeon or white-tipped imperial pigeon, is a relatively large species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to forest, woodland and mangrove on Sulawesi and smaller nearby islands.

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

The black imperial pigeon, also known as the Bismarck imperial pigeon, is a species of bird in the pigeon family, Columbidae. First described by English zoologist Philip Sclater in 1878, it is endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago, where it mainly inhabits rainforest and cloud forest in mountain areas above 500 m (1,600 ft). It is a large, heavily built imperial pigeon, with a length of 38–43 cm (15–17 in) and a weight of 661–665 g (23.3–23.5 oz). Adults are almost entirely black, except for the dark chestnut undertail coverts, the silvery-grey underside of the tail, and a pale grey scaly pattern on the wings and back. Both sexes look alike. Juveniles differ from adults in having paler undertail coverts.

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

The Pacific imperial pigeon, Pacific pigeon, Pacific fruit pigeon or lupe is a widespread pigeon species in the family Columbidae. It is found in American Samoa, the Cook Islands, the smaller islands of eastern Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, the smaller satellite islands of Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna Islands.

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

The spectacled imperial pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Maluku Islands.

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

Pinon's imperial pigeon or Pinon imperial pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in New Guinea. The species is named after Rose de Freycinet née Pinon. Several subspecies have been designated:

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

The island imperial pigeon or floury imperial pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands archipelago, living in primary and secondary forests and mangroves. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a least-concern species.

The grey-headed imperial pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi in Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

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

The Torresian imperial pigeon, also known as the nutmeg pigeon, white nutmeg pigeon, Australian pied imperial pigeon or Torres Strait pigeon, is a relatively large, pied species of pigeon. It is found in forest, woodland, savanna, mangrove and scrub in Australia, New Guinea, Aru Islands, islands in the Geelvink Bay, D'Entrecasteaux Islands and Louisiade Archipelago.

The yellowish imperial pigeon, also known as the yellow-tinted imperial pigeon or Bismarck imperial pigeon, is a relatively large species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to forest and woodland in the Bismarck Archipelago. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papuan mountain pigeon</span> Species of bird native to New Guinea and eastern Indonesia

The Papuan mountain pigeon is a species of bird in the pigeon family, Columbidae. It is found in the Bacan Islands, New Guinea, the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, and the Bismarck Archipelago, where it inhabits primary forest, montane forest, and lowlands. It is a medium-sized species of pigeon, being 33–36 cm (13–14 in) long and weighing 259 g (9.1 oz) on average. Adult males have slate-grey upperparts, chestnut-maroon throats and bellies, whitish breasts, and a pale grey terminal tail band. The lores and orbital region are bright red. Females are similar, but have grayish breasts and grey edges to the throat feathers.

<i>Aglaia spectabilis</i> Species of tree found near the Pacific and Indian coasts

Aglaia spectabilis is a species of tree in the family Meliaceae, found from the Santa Cruz Islands in the southwest Pacific to Queensland (Australia), Southeast Asia, Yunnan (Zhōngguó/China) and the Indian subcontinent. It grows from a 1m shrub to an emergent 40m tall tree, depending on the habitat. Its wood is commercially exploited as timber, but otherwise is of poor quality with limited use. The fruit are eaten, and used in folk medicine. The seeds are large in comparison to other plants, and a major source of dispersal of the species are hornbills eating the fruit, flying away from the tree and regurgitating the seeds.It is also found in Assam, India

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Goodwin, Derek (1983). Pigeons and Doves of the World. London: British Museum of Natural History.
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