Alternative name: Tahitian Pigeon
- Ducula aurorae
Identification
51 cm. A large, long-tailed pigeon.
- Dark iridescent green and blue back, wings and tail
- Pale silvery grey head, neck and underparts
- Greyish undertail-coverts, sometimes with a rufous tinge
- Red eye
- Bright red legs and feet
- Black bill with enlarged cere
Sexes alike, females slightly smaller. Juveniles are much darker, have a dark greyish green head and neck and dark grey underparts.
Distribution
Only found on Tahiti (French Polynesia) and Makatea Island.
An endangered species and probably already extinct on Tahiti (may survive in the Papenoo and Hitiaa Valleys). Population stable on Makatea but estimated at only 100 to 500 birds. Threatened by hunting and habitat destruction. Formerly also on Moorea and maybe on other islands.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies recognized:
- D. a. aurorae on Makatea Island (Tuamotu Archipelago)
- D. a. wilkesii on Tahiti (Society Islands)
The two subspecies differ very little, obviously only in number of tail feathers and the species is sometimes considered to be monotypic.
Closely related to Pacific Imperial Pigeon and sometimes considered conspecific.
Habitat
Subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on a variety of native and introduced fruits (eg guava, wild plantains, figs, Terminalia and climbing vine.
Breeding
No information.
Movements
No information.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2016. IOC World Bird Names (version 6.2). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Polynesian Imperial Pigeon. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Polynesian_Imperial_Pigeon
