Family: COLUMBIDAE
The large, worldwide family of pigeons feeds predominantly on fruits, seeds,
and berries, and all have rather compact, plump bodies and short, stout
bills. They nest on flimsy twig platform nests, laying white eggs. Calls
are repetitive, melodious coos, and in flight pigeons make a characteristic
flapping noise. Thirty species occur in the Greater Sundas, comprising three
species groups.
- Fruit-doves and green-pigeons - (Terron, Ptilinopus) - smaller,
arboreal birds with generally brightly coloured plumage without metallic
colours.
- Imperial pigeons - (Ducula, Columba) - large, arboreal birds
with metallic sheen in the plumage and generally with grey or whitish
underparts.
- Ground doves - (Macropygia, Streptopelia, Geopelia, Chalcophaps
and Caloenas) - birds which regularly visit the ground and have
either highly iridescent, greenish upperparts, or drab, reddish brown
colours.
Pied Imperial-Pigeon (Nutmeg Imperial-Pigeon)(Ducula bicolor)
Description: Large (42 cm) white and black pigeon. Entire
body creamy white except black flight feathers and tail. Distinguished
from Silvery Wood-Pigeon by whiter or more creamy colour.
Iris - brown; bill - grey; feet - blue-grey.
Voice: Deep, loud, resonant, chuckling
hu-hu-hu-hu-hu.
Range: Malay Peninsula, SE Asia, Borneo, Sumatra, Java,
Philippines, Sulawesi, Lesser Sundas, Moluccas to Irian Jaya.
Habits: Settles in communal roosts and forages in small
parties. Powerful fliers, birds often fly between small islands. Feeds and
sits conspicuously in high treees.
Mountain Imperial-Pigeon(Ducula badia)
Description: Large (45 cm) darkish pigeon. Head, neck, breast,
and belly purplish grey; chin and throat white; mantle and wing coverts
dark maroon; back and rump dark greyish brown; tail is brownish black with
a broad, pale grey terminal band; undertail coverts buff. Distinguished
from Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon by purplish black and buff vent, and from
Green Imperial-Pigeon by bicoloued tail.
Iris - white, grey, or red; bill - crimson with white tip; feet - crimson.
Voice: A click followed by two melancholic, booming coos
click-broom-broom
Range: India, SE Asia, Borneo, Sumatra, and W Java.
Distribution and status: In Borneo this is the commonest
large pigeon of montane forests between 400 and 2200 m, but also visits
coastal mangroves.
Habits: Coastal birds bathe in the mangrove water and
make daily trips inland. Montane populations make daily flights to
lowland feeding areas. Shier than Green Imperial-Pigeon.