Elegant Imperial Pigeon

The elegant imperial pigeon, also known as the blue-tailed imperial-pigeon, is a resplendent bird with a predominantly dark blue-green plumage that glistens with an iridescent sheen. Its head, neck, and underparts are a contrasting pale grey, while the undertail coverts boast a rich red-brown hue.

Identification Tips

This large pigeon measures approximately 43 cm in length. It can be identified by its pale grey head, neck, and upper back with a subtle pink tinge, particularly noticeable on the nape and back of the crown. The upperparts shimmer with dark green, and the top of the tail is a purplish-blue, which may appear black in certain lights. The underparts maintain the pale grey with a pinkish cast, and the undertail coverts are reddish-brown. The bill is black or bluish-grey, surrounded by a ring of white feathers at its base, and the bird's iris is a striking golden color. Its feet range from pinkish-red to crimson. Both sexes appear similar, though females exhibit darker shades of grey and pink. Juveniles are generally duller than adults.

Habitat

The elegant imperial pigeon is found in primary and secondary forests, forest edges, and trees within cultivated areas. It predominantly resides in lowland regions but can occasionally be found at elevations up to 850 meters.

Distribution

This species is native to small islands in Wallacea and off New Guinea, with sightings from the Talaud Islands, Sangihe, islands off southern Sulawesi, the southern Maluku Islands, and the eastern Lesser Sundas from Romang to Tanimbar, extending east to the Aru Islands. Vagrant individuals have been recorded as far as Buru and Darwin, Australia.

Behaviour

The elegant imperial pigeon is believed to migrate between islands in search of sustenance. Notably, a vagrant observed in Australia may have arrived alongside migrating Torresian imperial pigeons.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of this pigeon includes a loud, throaty barking "urrauw," emitted at irregular intervals. This is often followed by low-pitched, loud, upslurred growls, especially after another pigeon has barked.

Breeding

Breeding activities have been noted on Damar, where nest-building was observed in August. Nests were located high in the canopy, at heights of 25 to 30 meters, within the embrace of primary evergreen forests.

Diet and Feeding

The elegant imperial pigeon has a diet consisting mainly of fruit. It has been observed feeding on a variety of sources, including young coconut fruit, Ficus figs, Canarium species, Gnetum gnemon, fish poison trees (Barringtonia asiatica), Moluccan albizia (Falcataria moluccana), Bornean ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri), and Indonesian mahogany (Toona sureni). In Australia, a vagrant was seen feeding on banyan and palm trees. Foraging groups can sometimes comprise up to 40 individuals.

Conservation status

The elegant imperial pigeon is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of widespread decline.