Dwarf Fruit-Dove
Ptilinopus nainus
A tiny fruit dove of lowland and foothill rainforest. Mainly green with bright yellow vent. Male has a distinctive purple mark across the chest and a pale crescent above the shoulder. Often found in pairs and sometimes mixing with other fruit-dove species. Feeds on fruit and also nectar. Similar to female Claret-breasted and White-breasted Fruit-Doves, but Dwarf Fruit-Dove is smaller and has yellow edging to the wing feathers. Call, a distinctive falling and rising, “oh-wah!” repeated several times.
Identification
With a total length of 13–15 cm (5.1–5.9 in), it is the shortest pigeon or dove in the world, but as it is thickset, several other species weigh less. Its plumage is overall green, but with contrasting yellow undertail coverts, and narrow bars to the wings. The inner wing-coverts and secondaries are more bluish in color compared to the rest of the body. This bluish-green coloring is most prominent on the scapulars, which are the body feathers that cover the top of the wing when the bird is at rest. The males differ in color and plumage from the female. The males have a dark purple patch on the belly and tend to have a gray patch on both sides of their upper breasts. Both males and females have a yellowish-green beak and purplish-red legs, in addition to a yellow area on their abdomen and undertail coverts. Juvenile fruit doves resemble the coloring of females, but have yellow fringes on most of their plumage. Eventually this yellow fringe will disappear, and the birds will resemble their gender colorings. These fruit doves will often be found in pairs of their own species, and sometimes intermingling with other fruit dove species.<p>Dwarf fruit doves will communicate with each other using a high-pitched, slow, soft, and prolonged up slur. With a one-second pause, the sound is repeated about six times. Their call resembles a “oh-wah” sound.
Taxonomy
Genus: Ptilinopus; Family: Columbidae; Order: Columbiformes.
- Scientific name
- Ptilinopus nainus
- Authority
- (Temminck, 1835)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Ptilinopus
Range and habitat
The habitat of the dwarf fruit dove is forests in the lowlands and foothills of New Guinea, excluding northwestern New Guinea and the north coast of southeastern New Guinea. Additionally, they are found in the Raja Ampat islands off the coast of Northwestern New Guinea. They have been most found in hills up to 1100 meters. They can also be found at Varirata National Park in New Guinea.
- Migration
- Nomadic
Behavior
Migration pattern: Nomadic.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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