Pale-capped Pigeon

The Pale-capped Pigeon, or Columba punicea, known colloquially as the Purple Wood Pigeon, is a large pigeon species exhibiting a rich chestnut plumage with a distinctive pale crown. The male's crown is a whitish-grey, while the female's is a more subdued brownish-grey. Adults boast a creamy-yellow iris and crimson legs, with the skin around the eyes and ceres presenting a striking magenta.

Identification Tips

Males are characterized by their purplish-maroon upperparts with a faint green gloss on the neck and a more iridescent mantle and back. The rump and uppertail-coverts are dark slate-coloured, and the underparts are vinous-brown. Females have less gloss on their feathers and a more brownish-grey cap. Juveniles can be identified by their duller wing-coverts with rufous fringes and a crown colour that matches the mantle.

Habitat

This species is typically found in the forests of the plains, inhabiting a range of environments from primary or secondary evergreen forests to open deciduous dipterocarp forests, bamboo stands, and agricultural fields near forests.

Distribution

The Pale-capped Pigeon has a patchy distribution across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, including parts of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It is a seasonal visitor in some regions, such as Sri Lanka and parts of Thailand.

Behaviour

These pigeons are often seen in small groups, foraging in the canopy of large fruiting trees, particularly near rivers. They are most active during the cooler hours of morning and evening, spending the midday hours resting in the foliage.

Song & Calls

The call of the Pale-capped Pigeon is a low sound, akin to that of the Ducula aenea, but shorter and less prolonged.

Breeding

The breeding season spans from May to August. Nests are typically flimsy platforms situated low in trees, where one or, on rare occasions, two eggs are laid.

Similar Species

The Pale-capped Pigeon may be confused with other Old World pigeons that lack patterns on the back of the neck, such as Columba argentina.

Diet and Feeding

Primarily frugivorous, these pigeons forage in the canopy for berries and fruits, occasionally descending to the ground for seeds and fallen fruit.

Conservation status

The Pale-capped Pigeon is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild.