Torresian imperial pigeon
Torresian imperial pigeon | |
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George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Columbiformes |
Family: | Columbidae |
Genus: | Ducula |
Species: | D. spilorrhoa
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Binomial name | |
Ducula spilorrhoa (Gray, 1858)
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The Torresian imperial pigeon (Ducula spilorrhoa), also known as the nutmeg pigeon, white nutmeg pigeon, Australian pied imperial pigeon or Torres Strait pigeon (
It has been recorded as a vagrant in New South Wales, Australia. As far as known, most populations are resident or only take part in minor local movements. The population in Queensland leaves for New Guinea in February–April and returns in July–August.[3]
Description
The Torresian imperial pigeon is a large plump pigeon, 38-44
Behaviour
The flight of the pigeon is fast and direct, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings which are characteristic of pigeons in general.
Breeding
The male displays by flying up steeply, pausing, tipping forward and then gliding downwards. The female builds an untidy stick nest in a tree, usually a coconut palm and lays a single white egg, which hatches within 26 to 28 days.[3] The squab fledges after another three weeks. In Australia they breed between August and January in mangroves, vines, palm fronds on off-shore islands,[3] such as the Brook Islands. In north-east Queensland, they migrate daily as flocks from the islands to the mainland rainforests to eat fruit, returning to the islands at dusk.
Feeding
This is an
Calls
Calls made by the birds are a deep "mrrrooooo", "roo-ca-hoo" and "up-ooooo".
Taxonomy
Its
Two additional
Status
The birds were once present in large colonies in
Anecdotal evidence from Weipa, Cape York Peninsula in 1979 was that many birds migrating from Papua New Guinea were shot and pickled as provisions for the merchant shipping fleets moving through the Torres Strait. The population of birds visiting Weipa in the 1980s was so low that the birds distinctive call was heard but sightings at that time were rare. The population in Weipa today is thriving as flocks feed voraciously twice daily on Carpentaria Palms in suburban back yards from August each year.
The population is now slowly increasing because of their protected status in Australia, where there are now an estimated 30,000. The species remains locally fairly common in parts of its range, and is therefore considered to be of
References
- Frith, H.J. (1982). Pigeons and Doves of Australia. Rigby.
- Pizzey and Knight, "Field Guide to the Birds of Australia", Angus & Robertson, ISBN 0-207-19691-5
- Trounsen and Trounsen, "Australian Birds: A Concise Photographic Field Guide, Cameron House. ISBN 1-875999-47-7.
Notes
- ^ . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Mabo/Meriam Mir Words, Torres Strait Creole words".
- ^ ISBN 84-87334-22-9
- ^ ISBN 0-7136-3930-X
- ISBN 0-7136-6536-X
- ISBN 0-300-05547-1
- ^ Gill, F., M. Wright, & D. Donsker (2009). IOC World Bird Names. Version 2.1. Accessed 03-07-2009
- ^ ISBN 0-9590257-3-1