Tanna Fruit-Dove
Ptilinopus tannensis
A relatively large fruit dove. Deep pine green in color, with bright yellow spots in the wing and a yellow-dusted head. Often found in pairs, but can be found in large groups at fruiting trees. Larger than Red-bellied Fruit Dove, and female has yellow wing spots. Most common call is a series of low, rising “woot” calls heard regularly throughout the species’ range.
Identification
The Tanna fruit dove (Ptilinopus tannensis) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to Vanuatu. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, and heavily degraded former forest.
Taxonomy
Genus: Ptilinopus; Family: Columbidae; Order: Columbiformes.
- Scientific name
- Ptilinopus tannensis
- Authority
- (Latham, 1790)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Ptilinopus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Nomadic
Behavior
Migration pattern: Nomadic.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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