Green Imperial-Pigeon
Ducula aenea
Stately large pigeon, predominantly pearl gray with deep green wings and back. Birds of Sulawesi and the north Philippines have a gingery-orange nape patch. Inhabits forested areas from the lowlands up into the foothills, including edge areas and second growth near human habitation. Very vocal, with a wide repertoire: most common call is a throaty “rrruh-RUOOHH,” but various extended or pitch-altered versions of it are given as well.
Identification
The green imperial pigeon is a large, plump pigeon, 45 centimetres (18 in) in length. Its back, wings and tail are metallic green. The head and underparts are white, apart from maroon undertail coverts. Sexes are similar. The bird's call is deep and resonant, and is often the first indication of the presence of this treetop species.
Taxonomy
In 1760 the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson included a description of the green imperial pigeon in his six volume Ornithologie. He used the French name Le pigeon ramier des Moluques and the Latin Palumbus moluccensis. Although Brisson coined Latin names, these do not conform to the binomial system and are not recognised by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. When in 1766 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his Systema Naturae for the twelfth edition, he added 240 species that had been previously described by Brisson. One of these was the green imperial pigeon which he placed with all the other pigeons in the genus Columba. Linnaeus included a brief description, coined the binomial name Columba aenea and cited Brisson's work. Brisson believed his specimen had come from the Maluku Islands but the species does not occur there and in 1918 the type locality was designated as the island of Flores in Indonesia. The specific name aenea is from the Latin aeneus meaning "of a bronze colour" or "coppery". This species is now placed in the genus Ducula that was introduced by the English naturalist Brian Houghton Hodgson in 1836.<p>Eleven subspecies are recognised:<p>The subspecies D. a. oenothorax is sometimes treated as a distinct species, the Enggano imperial pigeon (Ducula oenothorax). The Nicobar imperial pigeon (Ducula nicobarica) was formerly treated as conspecific.
- Scientific name
- Ducula aenea
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1766)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Ducula
Range and habitat
This is a forest species which is a widespread resident breeding bird in tropical southern Asia from Nepal and India east to Indonesia. It has several subspecies, including the distinctive Celebes form, chestnut-naped imperial pigeon (Ducula aenea paulina).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Geelvink Fruit-Dove
Ptilinopus speciosus
Localized endemic of islands in West Papua’s Geelvink Bay, including Biak and Numfor. Males have a large, bright “fried egg” yellow-and-white patch on the chest and a hot pink patch on the belly. Otherwise mostly green, aside from yellow undertail. Females are green, with yellow on the undertail and belly. Found in lowland rainforest. The song is an accelerating series of two-part “hoo-wooo” notes given in a series, usually of 7-9 notes. Similar to White-breasted Fruit-Dove, but smaller overall and smaller-billed, and males further separated by their distinctive breast pattern.
Chestnut-colored Woodpecker
Celeus castaneus
Attractive, medium-sized crested woodpecker of humid tropical lowlands. Uncommon in evergreen forest and edge ranging into adjacent clearings with taller trees. Forages mainly at middle to upper levels, where often quite inconspicuous. Both sexes bright chestnut-brown overall with blond, shaggy, slightly wobbly crest. Male has big red mustache.
White-backed Woodpecker
Dendrocopos leucotos
Marginally larger than Great Spotted Woodpecker, but appears distinctly longer-billed. White back in some subspecies is not always obvious when perched but easy to see in flight. Streaky flanks are distinctive. Also note varying amounts of red on the lower belly and undertail. Gives a somewhat hoarse “kik”, sometimes in rattled series. Drum is fast and fades towards the end. Found in mature undisturbed deciduous and mixed forest with lots of dead trees; sometimes near water, as well as in recently burned areas. Threatened by habitat loss in much of its range.
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