Golden Dove
Ptilinopus luteovirens
A spectacular and unique dove. Male is vivid golden yellow with peculiar hair-like feathers, a thin but bright yellow collar, and green bare skin around the eye. Female is mostly green with a yellow undertail, a brownish face, and green feet. She resembles female Orange and Velvet Doves, but those species do not overlap in range. Voice most resembles a heron-like croak or distant dog bark, given every few seconds.
Taxonomy
The golden fruit dove is one of over 50 species in the genus Ptilinopus. Within the genus, it is most closely related to the orange fruit dove and whistling fruit dove. These three species are placed together in their own subgenus, Chrysoena. They are also sometimes treated as their own genus. It is monotypic.<p>The species' generic name comes from the Ancient Greek ptilon (feather) and pous (foot), while the specific epithet luteovirens is from the Latin luteus (orange-yellow), and virens (green), referring to its colour.
- Scientific name
- Ptilinopus luteovirens
- Authority
- (Hombron & Jacquinot, 1841)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Ptilinopus
Range and habitat
The golden dove is endemic to the islands of Viti Levu, Ovalau, Beqa, Ngau and Waya. It mainly inhabits open forest, gallery forest, and secondary growth, but is also found in mature rainforest with sparse undergrowth and tall trees. It is found between elevations of 60–1,200 m (200–3,940 ft). They are occasionally found near towns and villages.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Shy, seldom-seen (but often heard) resident of lowland rainforest. In dim understory note long, pale legs, tailless shape, spotted breast, and wide buffy eyering; looks small. Hops on the ground searching for insects in leaf litter; may fly up to a low perch to assess an observer or respond to playback. Song is a distinctive series of far-carrying hooting notes with some regional variation, but unlike any other species in range.
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Greater Bluebonnet
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Brown parrot with yellow-and-red belly and deep blue face, typically found in dry inland habitats in eastern Australia. Multiple subspecies vary in the color of their wing patch, belly, and undertail. Usually seen in small groups, this species is often hard to approach and is easily flushed. In flight, the blue wings and red shoulders contrast with pale brown back. Distinguished from the similar but smaller Naretha Bluebonnet by presence of red on belly.
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