Christmas imperial pigeon
| Christmas imperial pigeon | |
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| Species: | D. whartoni
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| Binomial name | |
| Ducula whartoni (Sharpe, 1887)
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The Christmas imperial pigeon, (Ducula whartoni), is a large (39 cm in length, 450-700 g in weight) pigeon, mainly dark grey in colour with an iridescent sheen.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean. It inhabits rainforest and secondary growth with fruiting trees.
Behaviour
Diet
Fruit from forest trees with occasional buds and leaves.
Breeding
It builds a platform nest of twigs high in a forest tree.
Voice
It utters a deep booming call.
Conservation
The Christmas imperial pigeon was classified as "vulnerable" because of its small population and restricted distribution until 2012, when it was downgraded to near threatened".[2] Threats include illegal hunting and predation by introduced yellow crazy ants Anoplolepis gracilipes.
See also
References
- ^ Template:IUCN
- ^ "Recently recategorised species". Birdlife International (2012). Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- BirdLife International (2006) Species factsheet: Ducula whartoni. Accessed 24/1/2007
- Higgins, P.J.; & Davies, S.J.J.F. (Eds.). (1996). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 3. Snipe to Pigeons. Oxford University Press: Melbourne. ISBN 0-19-553070-5
External links
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