Coral fruit pigeon

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coral fruit pigeon
Ptilinopus rivoli bellus, male

Ptilinopus rivoli bellus , male

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Pigeon birds (Columbiformes)
Family : Pigeons (Columbidae)
Genre : Downy pigeons ( Ptilinopus )
Type : Coral fruit pigeon
Scientific name
Ptilinopus rivoli
( Prévost , 1843)

The coral pigeon or coral downy pigeon ( Ptilinopus rivoli ) is a species of pigeon birds. It occurs in several subspecies on Southeast Asian islands.

Appearance

The coral fruit pigeon reaches a body length of 23.5 to 26 centimeters. It is smaller than a laughing pigeon , but more compact than this one. Their tail is shorter and rounded. There is a striking gender dimorphism .

The males have a striking purple head cap. The plumage is predominantly dark green. There is a large crescent-shaped white band on the chest. Depending on the subspecies, this band can also have a yellowish tinge. The color of the belly and the under tail-covers also vary depending on the subspecies. The nominate shape has an elongated, narrow spot of purple color on the belly. The under tail-coverts are bright yellow. In some subspecies, however, the belly is also pure yellow and the under tail-coverts are green. The beak is bright yellow. The females are almost entirely green feathered.

Spread and behavior

The coral pigeon is found in New Guinea and many of the islands bordering New Guinea. It colonizes the Moluccas , the Aru archipelago and islands of the Bismarck Archipelago . Islands on which the coral pigeon is relatively frequent include Buru , Seram and Karkar .

The habitat of the coral pigeon is predominantly primary mountain forest. It also inhabits secondary forest in a lower density. In New Guinea it is typically found at altitudes between 1,000 and 3,260 meters above sea level. On smaller islands such as Aru, however, it can also be found in the lowlands. It is a species that lives predominantly in the tree canopy. Despite the eye-catching head markings on the male, it is difficult to make out there. It is a fruit-eating species that picks fruit from the branches. She seldom hits the ground. The nest is loosely put together from twigs. The clutch comprises two eggs, which is atypical for fruit pigeons native to New Guinea .

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Rösler, p. 283
  2. ↑ Gibbs, p. 503
  3. ↑ Gibbs, p. 503

literature

  • David Gibbs, Eustace Barnes and John Cox: Pigeons and Doves - A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World . Pica Press, Sussex 2001, ISBN 90-74345-26-3 .
  • Gerhard Rösler: The wild pigeons of the earth - free living, keeping and breeding . M. & H. Schaper Verlag, Alfeld-Hannover 1996, ISBN 3-7944-0184-0 .

Web link