Buru Mountain Pigeon

The Buru mountain pigeon, a medium-sized bird with a slender frame, is adorned with long wings and tail, stretching between 33 to 38.5 centimeters in length. The males boast a blue-grey crown and neck, with a darker slate-grey back, while the underparts transition from a white or pale buff-pink throat to a buff-pink belly. Females are slightly smaller and exhibit a more pronounced wine color on the breast.

Identification Tips

Adult males are identifiable by their blue-grey crowns and necks, and darker mantles. Their upperparts are dark slate-grey with a slight gloss, and their flight feathers are greenish-black. The face, throat, and upper breast range from white to pale buff-pink, transitioning to buff-pink on the belly. Females tend to be smaller and have more wine-colored breasts. Juveniles can be recognized by their browner upperparts and dusky mottling on the throat and breast.

Habitat

This species is a denizen of hill and montane forests on Buru, occasionally venturing into disturbed lowland forests for foraging. It is most commonly found at elevations of 650 to 1,760 meters.

Distribution

The Buru mountain pigeon is an endemic species to the island of Buru within the Maluku Islands of Indonesia.

Behaviour

These pigeons are typically seen alone or in pairs, and sometimes in small flocks, especially from October to December. They roost in the high mountains and make daily foraging trips to the lowlands, returning to the roosts by evening.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of the Buru mountain pigeon remains a mystery, though it is presumed to be mostly silent, akin to its congeners in the Gymnophaps genus.

Breeding

The breeding season for the Buru mountain pigeon is speculated to occur from October to December, aligning with observed flocking behavior.

Diet and Feeding

Fruit comprises the primary diet of the Buru mountain pigeon. It is often observed feeding in the canopy and visiting coastal fruiting trees.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Buru mountain pigeon as Least Concern, with an estimated population of 20,000 to 49,999 individuals. The montane forests of its habitat remain relatively undisturbed, posing no immediate threats to the species.