Polynesian imperial pigeon
| Polynesian imperial pigeon | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Columbiformes |
| Family: | Columbidae |
| Genus: | Ducula |
| Species: | D. aurorae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ducula aurorae (Peale, 1849)
| |
The Polynesian imperial pigeon or Society Islands pigeon (Ducula aurorae) is a species of
Description
This pigeon is approximately 51 cm tall. It is a large, knob-billed pigeon with broad rounded wings. Its plumage is silver-grey on its head and most of underparts with dark bronzy-green upperparts and black undertail-coverts.[2]
Ecology and conservation
This species is formerly found in dense forests but has since been found in secondary habitat such as gardens. It feeds on fruit of a great variety of native and introduced trees. It is now an important seed disperser on Makatea, accelerating the spread of native forest into areas which had been mined and deforested. A 2009 estimate suggested a current population size of only 1000-1600 individuals.[1]
Cultural References
The Polynesian imperial pigeon is featured in a folktale from
References
- ^ . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Polynesian Imperial pigeon Ducula aurorae - Species Factsheet". BirdLife International.
- ISSN 1063-1119.