Pacific Emerald Dove
Chalcophaps longirostris
Squat ground-dwelling dove with shimmering green wings. Note chocolate-brown body. Found in forest and forest edge, where it forages on the ground; often flushed at close quarters with a loud wing-clatter. Usually solitary, occasionally in flocks or small groups. Song is an accelerating and rising series of mournful coos.
Identification
This is a common species in rainforest and similar dense wet woodlands, farms, gardens, mangroves, and coastal heaths. It builds a scant stick nest in a tree up to five metres and lays two cream-coloured eggs. Breeding tends to occur in Australia in spring or early summer in southeastern Australia and late in the dry season in northern Australia.<p>Its flight is fast and direct, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings which are characteristic of pigeons in general. It often flies low between the patches of dense forest it prefers, but when disturbed will frequently walk away rather than fly. They are particularly good weavers when flying through forests. When flying they expose a buff underwing and a chestnut colour of their flight feathers.<p>The Pacific emerald dove is a stocky, medium-sized pigeon, typically 23 to 28 centimetres (9.1 to 11.0 inches) in length. The back and wings are bright emerald green. The flight feathers and tail are blackish, and broad black and white bars show on the lower back in flight. The head and underpants are dark vinous pink fading to greyish on the lower belly. The eyes are dark brown, the bill bright red, and the legs and feet rufous.<p>The male has a white patch on the edge of the shoulders and a grey crown, which the female lacks. Females will tend to have a browner complexion with a grey mark on the shoulder. Immature birds resemble females but have brown scallops on their bodies and wing plumage.<p>Pacific emerald doves usually occur singly, in pairs, or in small groups. They are quite terrestrial, often searching for fallen fruit on the ground and spending little time in trees except when roosting. They eat seeds and fruits of a wide variety of plants and are generally tame and approachable.<p>The call is a low soft moaning cooing consisting of about six to seven coos starting quietly and rising. They also call a nasal "hoo-hoo-hoon". Males perform a bobbing dance during courtship.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Chalcophaps longirostris
- Authority
- Gould, 1848
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Chalcophaps
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Elegant Woodcreeper
Xiphorhynchus elegans
Small streaked woodcreeper of lowland rainforest. Found in a variety of forested habitats; often one of the most common woodcreepers within its range. Reddish brown overall with tan streaking on the head and breast, and a long and fairly slender bill. Hard to distinguish from the similar Ocellated Woodcreeper except by voice. Listen for a long, fast rising and falling series of whistles.
Spectacled Prickletail
Siptornis striaticollis
Small, brown bird of Andean cloud forest. Quite rare and apparently absent from many areas of seemingly appropriate forest. It has faint, pale streaking on the breast, a partial eye-ring, and a short white stripe behind the eye. Similar to Streaked Xenops, but bill is not upturned and lacks “whisker” stripes. Creeps along branches in middle levels of the forest, and often follows mixed-species flocks. Song is a quick series of high-pitched “tick” notes.
Buru Cuckooshrike
Coracina fortis
A relatively large gray songbird with a notably heavy bill, a prominent black mark between the bill and the eye, and a paler belly. Singles and pairs frequent the canopy of forest within lowlands and mountains, including degraded forest. Confined to Buru. Differs from Pale Cicadabird in its larger size and extensive black area between bill and the eye. Differs from Common Cicadabird in its pale belly, larger size, and heavier bill. Call is a short, sharp, slightly burry “skeet.”
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.