Sultan's Cuckoo-Dove
Macropygia doreya
A large, long-tailed brown dove with a pale brown head and underparts and darker rufous-brown upperparts. Male displays little or no barring on breast and a pale nape patch. Females show extensive barring on neck. Singles, pairs, or small groups inhabit varied habitats, including forests, edges, woodlands, and gardens from the coast to the mountains. Larger than Black-billed Cuckoo-Dove, with a paler underside and an unbarred tail. Gives a distinctive two-note call, rising on the final part: “puk-hooa.”
Identification
They are typically about 35–37 centimetres (14–15 in) long. The males tend to have a slight rose/green colouration on their nape and neck. Many subspecies have whitish underparts, fine dark barring below and/or a whitish cap.<p>The call of this dove is a very loud "whoop-a whoop" with some differences depending on the subspecies involved.<p>Sultan's cuckoo-dove inhabits rainforest, woodland, scrubland and rainforest regrowth areas.<p>The doves can often be seen in pairs or groups. Its diet consists of berries from both native plants and introduced weed species. They can be nomadic, depending on the supplies of food. They tend to fly short distances and low to the ground with great strength.<p>Breeding occurs in spring and summer. The nest is a flat platform of sticks and vines, either in a fork of a tree or on top of a low tree. One, creamy white, egg is laid.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Macropygia doreya
- Authority
- Bonaparte, 1854
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Macropygia
Photos
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