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Difference between revisions of "Metallic Pigeon" - BirdForum Opus

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;Columba vitiensis
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;[[:Category:Columba|Columba]] vitiensis
[[Image:Metallic_Pigeon.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Matalevu]]
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==Description==
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'''Alternative name(s): White-throated Pigeon'''
aka White-throated Pigeon
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[[Image:Metallic_Pigeon.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Subspecies ''vitiensis''. Photo by Matalevu <br/>Photo taken: Pacific Harbour, Fiji
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]]
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Photo taken: Pacific Harbour, Fiji
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37-41 cm.
[edit] Identification
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*crown purple and green
The adult has an iridescent purple and green crown, black wing and uppertail coverts, yellowish red iris, yellow bill, red orbital skin, white or grey chin and ear coverts, and purplish feet. It has a dull chestnut or glossed purple green below, depends on subspecies. The nominate form C. v. vitiensis from Fiji has a dull underparts, while subspecies C. v. halmaheira of Maluku Islands has the most iridescent plumage. Both sexes are similar. The young is duller than adult.
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*wing and uppertail coverts black
 
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*iris yellowish red  
 
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*bill yellow
[edit] Distribution
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*orbital skin red
The Metallic Pigeon is distributed to tropical forests of eastern Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Samoa and surrounding southwest Pacific islands. It used to exist on Lord Howe Island in Australia, but was exterminated by hunting in 1853.
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*chin and ear coverts white or grey (subspecies dependent)
 
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*feet purple
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Sexes are similar. Immatures are duller than adults.
  
[edit] Food
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==Distribution==
The diet consists mainly of various fruits, grains, seeds and berries. The female usually lays one to two eggs.
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[[Indonesia]], the [[Philippines]], [[New Guinea]], [[Solomon Islands]], [[Fiji]], [[New Caledonia]], [[Samoa]].
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==Taxonomy==
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Some authorities restrict "Metallic Pigeon" to subspecies ''metallica'' (i.e. ''C. metallica''), placing others (at least ''griseogularis'' and ''halmaheira'' [[#References|[2]]]) into "White-throated Pigeon", ''C. vitiensis''. Reference [[#References|[2]]] regards the differences as minor, suggesting that the plumage of ''griseogularis'' is transitional between the forms.
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====Subspecies====
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Clements recognises the following subspecies [[#References|[1]]]:
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*''C. v. griseogularis'': Philippines, Sulu Archipelago and islands off northern Borneo
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*''C. v. anthracina'': Palawan and adjacent islands (Calauit, Comiran, and Lambucan), Philippines
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*''C. v. metallica'': Lesser Sundas
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*''C. v. halmaheira'': Banggai, Sula islands, Kai, Moluccas to New Guinea and Solomons
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*''C. v. leopoldi'': Vanuatu
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*''C. v. hypoenochroa'': New Caledonia, Isle of Pines and Loyalty Islands
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*''C. v. vitiensis'': Fiji Islands
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*''C. v. castaneiceps'': Western Samoa (Savai'i, Apolima, Manono and Upolu)
  
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==Habitat==
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Occurs in lowland and montane forests and edges, often close to human settlements on small islands. Forages both in trees and on the ground.
  
[edit] Conservation
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==Behaviour==
Widespread and common throughout its large range, the Metallic Pigeon is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
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The diet includes fruits, grains, seeds and berries.  
 
 
  
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Lays 1-2 eggs.
  
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thOct22}}#{{Ref-Eatonetal21}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Columba+vitiensis}}
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{{GSearch| "Columba vitiensis" {{!}} "Metallic Pigeon" {{!}} "White-throated Pigeon" }}
*[http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&fid=29&bid=304 View more images of this species on the ABID]
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{{GS-checked}}1 <br /><br />
 
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Columba]]
[[Category:Birds]]
 

Latest revision as of 16:40, 21 December 2023

Columba vitiensis

Alternative name(s): White-throated Pigeon

Subspecies vitiensis. Photo by Matalevu
Photo taken: Pacific Harbour, Fiji

Identification

37-41 cm.

  • crown purple and green
  • wing and uppertail coverts black
  • iris yellowish red
  • bill yellow
  • orbital skin red
  • chin and ear coverts white or grey (subspecies dependent)
  • feet purple

Sexes are similar. Immatures are duller than adults.

Distribution

Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Samoa.

Taxonomy

Some authorities restrict "Metallic Pigeon" to subspecies metallica (i.e. C. metallica), placing others (at least griseogularis and halmaheira [2]) into "White-throated Pigeon", C. vitiensis. Reference [2] regards the differences as minor, suggesting that the plumage of griseogularis is transitional between the forms.

Subspecies

Clements recognises the following subspecies [1]:

  • C. v. griseogularis: Philippines, Sulu Archipelago and islands off northern Borneo
  • C. v. anthracina: Palawan and adjacent islands (Calauit, Comiran, and Lambucan), Philippines
  • C. v. metallica: Lesser Sundas
  • C. v. halmaheira: Banggai, Sula islands, Kai, Moluccas to New Guinea and Solomons
  • C. v. leopoldi: Vanuatu
  • C. v. hypoenochroa: New Caledonia, Isle of Pines and Loyalty Islands
  • C. v. vitiensis: Fiji Islands
  • C. v. castaneiceps: Western Samoa (Savai'i, Apolima, Manono and Upolu)

Habitat

Occurs in lowland and montane forests and edges, often close to human settlements on small islands. Forages both in trees and on the ground.

Behaviour

The diet includes fruits, grains, seeds and berries.

Lays 1-2 eggs.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Eaton, JA, B van Balen, NW Brickle, FE Rheindt 2021. Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago (Greater Sundas and Wallacea), Second Edition. Lynx Editions. ISBN978-84-16728-44-2

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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