Ptilinopus melanospilus
The Black-naped Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus melanospilus) is a striking medium-sized dove, typically measuring 20-24 cm (8-9.5 inches) in length and weighing around 80-120 grams. Males boast vibrant green plumage, a distinctive grey head, a whitish forehead, and a prominent black patch on the nape that gives the species its common name. Bright yellow undertail coverts and an orange-yellow lower belly provide additional splashes of color, making it a truly beautiful sight for birders. Females are s...
This species primarily inhabits lowland tropical and subtropical primary and secondary forests, coastal forests, and mangroves, often at forest edges. It can be found from sea level up to approximately 1200 meters in elevation.
The Black-naped Fruit Dove is primarily frugivorous, feeding on a wide variety of tropical fruits and berries, especially figs. It forages by plucking fruit directly from trees within the forest canopy.
The Black-naped Fruit Dove is diurnal and largely arboreal, spending most of its time high in the forest canopy, either solitarily or in small, loose groups. It is a quiet and elusive bird, foraging methodically among the foliage by plucking fruits directly from branches. While not overtly territ...
The Black-naped Fruit Dove is endemic to the biogeographical region of Southeast Asia, with its extensive breeding range spanning numerous islands across Indonesia and the Philippines. Specific regions include Java, Bali, Sulawesi, the Lesser Sunda Islands (such as Timor and Wetar), various Moluc...
Least Concern
- Despite its incredibly vibrant green, yellow, and orange plumage, the Black-naped Fruit Dove is a master of camouflage, blending seamlessly into the dense tropical foliage. - It plays a vital ecological role as a 'gardener' of its forest home, dispersing seeds of the fruits it consumes across w...