- Ducula rufigaster
Identification
- Pale pinkish head
- Orange underparts
- Metallic emerald green wings and back
- Purple rump
- Gray tail band
Similar Species
Rufescent Imperial Pigeon is found at higher elevations and lacks an obvious pale gray tail band.
Distribution
Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Taxonomy
This is a polytypic species[1].
Subspecies
Two subspecies are known, of which the nominate seems the most widespread while uropygialis is limited to northern New Guinea.
Habitat
Subtropical or tropical moist lowland and foothill rainforest interior.
Behaviour
Usually solitary and difficult to see. Does not usually fly above the canopy.
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Baptista, L. F., P. W. Trail, H. M. Horblit, and E. F. J. Garcia (2020). Purple-tailed Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula rufigaster), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.ptipig1.01
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Purple-tailed_Imperial_Pigeon
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
