- Ducula aenea
Identification
40–47 cm (15¾-18½ in) A large, grey pigeon
- Iridescent green upperparts with bluish to bronzish tinge
- Primaries, outer secondaries and tail feathers dark grey with some dark green iridescence
- Grey head, neck and upper mantle
- Undertail-coverts dark chestnut
- Unbarred tail (unlike Mountain Imperial Pigeon)
Juveniles are generally duller. Subspecies vary in coloration.
Similar Species
Hard to tell apart from Columba Pigeons in flight, but has a longer tail and is heavy-bodied.
Distribution
South-east Asia. Most of the Indian Peninsula, southern Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, very localised in Singapore, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Philippines.
Common and widespread in most of its range.
Taxonomy
Racial variation not very clear, further study needed. 13 to 20 subspecies accepted. Nicobar Imperial Pigeon was formerly treated as subspecies of this species.
Forms a species group with White-eyed Imperial Pigeon Ducula perspicillata and Blue-tailed Imperial Pigeon Ducula concinna.
Subspecies
Clements[1] recognises the following 12 sub-species:
- D. a. sylvatica in northern India east to southeastern China (including Hainan Island), southern Thailand and southern Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam
- D. a. pusilla in S India and Sri Lanka
- D. a. andamanica in Andaman Islands
- D. a. consobrina on Islands off western Sumatra (Simeulue south to the Mentawai islands)
- D. a. polia in Thai-Malay Peninsula, the Greater Sunda Islands, and the Lesser Sunda Islands (Lombok east to Alor)
- D. a. palawanensis on Palawan, adjacent s Philippines and Banggai Islands
- D. a. fugaensis in northern Philippines (Calayan, Camiguin Norte and Fuga)
- D. a. aenea in Philippines (except for northern Luzon and associated islands and the southwestern islands)
- D. a. intermedia in Sangihe and Talaud island
- D. a. oenothorax on Enggano I. (off w Sumatra)
- D. a. nuchalis on N Luzon (n Philippines)
- D. a. paulina (pallidinucha, sulana) in Sulawesi and associated islands, including Togian, Banggai, and Sula islands
Habitat
Primary and secondary forest, mangroves, open country with some trees. Usually in the lowlands only occasionally reported up to 600m, in Indonesia up to 1000m.
Behaviour
Often in small flocks, roosting together, sometimes traditional roosting sites.
Breeding
Breeding times vary. In India mostly April and May, in Java in January, in Sumatra recorded to breed in all months. Nest is a platform with twigs. Lays 1 egg.
Diet
A frugivorous species, feeding on fruit, berries, wild figs, nutmeg or buds of mangroves.
Movements
Resident, some movements may be linked with fruiting of trees.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Green Imperial Pigeon. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Green_Imperial_Pigeon
External Links
