Rapa Fruit-Dove
Ptilinopus huttoni
A colorful fruit-dove with a bluish gray neck and head, a mostly vibrant green body and wings, and pink patches on the belly and forehead. No other similar species share its range. Gives a typical dove-like call with a couple of longer “woo” notes followed by a long period of accelerated “laughing.”
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Ptilinopus huttoni
- Authority
- Finsch, 1874
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Ptilinopus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The Rapa fruit dove lives in the remaining undisturbed forest fragments on the island and prefers an elevation between 40 – 450 meters. Rapa Iti has a tropical climate and the dove can be found in the moist lowland forests. They prefer the most wooded areas but can occasionally be found in the Caribbean pine plantations.<p>As indicated by their name, the Rapa fruit dove primarily feeds on fleshy fruit from the various trees on the island, as well as nectar from some flowers. There are many productive native berry trees on Rapa Iti to sustain the dove. While the strawberry guava is an invasive species and a cause for habitat decline, it is possible that it is also a source of food for the dove. They eat while perched in the tree and pick or reach for the fruit. Since they are heavier than some other fruit doves, the Rapa fruit dove does not move out to the end of the branches, and instead must perform many contortions to reach the fruit.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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