Paloma Imperial Micronesia

Identificación

The Micronesian imperial pigeon is about 36 cm (14 in) long and weighs 340–406 g (12.0–14.3 oz). The head and neck are ashy grey. The back and wing coverts are dark green, reflecting dark blue. The flight feathers are blackish, with a green gloss. The breast is light grey, and the vent is dark rufous. The tail is blackish above and dark brown below. The beak is slaty black, and the cere is black. The eyes are reddish brown, and the feet are purplish red. The female and the juvenile birds are darker. The subspecies are distinguished by their size and the colour of their heads.This species of bird makes many different types of calls, which can sound like barking, cooing, or moaning. It can probably fly pretty well.

Taxonomía

The species was first described as Columba oceanica in 1826. The binomial authority was formerly considered to be Lesson & Garnot, but it is now given as Desmarest. Five subspecies are recognized: D. o. monacha in Palau and Yap, D. o. teraokai on Chuuk, D. o. townsendi on Pohnpei, D. o. oceanica on Kosrae, and D. o. ratakensis in the Marshall Islands.

Nombre científico

Ducula oceanica

Autoridad

(Desmarest, 1826)

Orden

Columbiformes

Familia

Columbidae

Género

Ducula

Distribución y hábitat

The Micronesian imperial pigeon is found in the Marshall Islands, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae of Micronesia, Nauru, Kiribati and Palau. The populations on many of the Marshall Islands are probably extinct. On Pohnpei and Kosrae, it mostly lives in the mountains. In areas where it is not hunted, it is found in secondary forest, forest on beaches, and mangroves. It also occurs in coconut plantations.<p>The species also occurred once in the Mariana Islands, where Holocene subfossil remains are found.

Migración

Resident species

Comportamiento

This pigeon is mostly solitary, usually observed in the canopy. It eats fruits and fleshy seeds. Its calls include a deep-throated bark grrow-row-row-ow, a moan, and mellow coos. Almost nothing is known about its breeding. The breeding season is probably the entire year.

Conservación

Tendencia poblacional

declining