From Opus

Photo by Romy Ocon.
Photographed: Subic rainforest, Zambales province, Philippines.
A male bird

Chalcophaps indica

[edit] Identification

A small and short-tailed dove.

• Emerald-green on wings and mantle
• Primaries and outer secondaries slaty black with chestnut on inner webs
• Dark brownish purple neck and breast
• Black tail

Male

• White forehead and supercilium (lacking in pacific subspecies where head brownish)
• White shoulder

Flight

• Small and stocky dove
• Diagnostic pale lower back-bars

[edit] Distribution

This species has a wide distribution in southeast Asia and Australia. From the Indian Subcontinent to south China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines to Australia and some Pacific islands like Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Introduced in Hong Kong.

[edit] Taxonomy

At least 9 subspecies recognized:

• C.i.indica from India to the Philipppines
• C.i.robinsoni of Sri Lanka
• C.i.natalis on Christmas Island
• C.i.maxima on Andaman Islands
• C.i.minima Numfoor Island, Biak Island, Mios Num Island, Irian Jaya
• C.i.augusta on Nicobar Islands
• C.i.chrysochlora E Lesser Sundas, Moluccas, New Guinea, E Australia
• C.i.longirostris in N Australia
• C.i.sandwichensis Santa Cruz Island, Banks Island, Vanuatu, New Caledonia

Some authors propose more subspecies. The last three subspecies may form a separate species Chalcophaps chrysochlora (or Chalcophaps longirostris), Pacific Emerald Dove.

[edit] Habitat

Different types of forest: rain forest, mangroves, gallery forest, clearings, orchards and plantations near forest, in Australia also in drier habitat.

[edit] Behaviour

Often quite tame, but hard to discover in the forest. May feed inconspicuously on ground. Usually found when dashing in direct flight through the forest. Flies often into windows and may be attracted by lights at night.
Breeds all year round. Nest is a platform of twigs in a tree or a bush. Lays 2 eggs.
Feeds mostly on fallen fruit and seeds, also on invertebrates (termites, snails, insects). May feed on farmyards together with domestic fowl. Usually feeds singly on the ground, sometimes in pairs.
Not migratory, but local wandering occurs. Sometimes birds are found well out of their natural range, e.g. Maldive Islands.

[edit] External Links