Ptilinopus arcanus
The Negros Fruit Dove (*Ptilinopus arcanus*) is one of the world's most enigmatic and critically endangered avian species, known only from a handful of sightings. This small dove measures approximately 16.5 cm (6.5 inches) in length, making it a relatively diminutive member of the pigeon and dove family, Columbidae. The only officially described specimen, a female collected in 1953, exhibited an iridescent green back, a white forecrown, chin, and throat, with a greyish-green face and neck, du...
This highly specialized dove inhabits montane and mossy forests, primarily found at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 1,100 meters above sea level.
Its diet is presumed to consist primarily of small fruits and berries, characteristic of other species within the genus *Ptilinopus*, foraged directly from forest canopy trees.
Due to its extreme rarity and very limited observations, the specific behavioral patterns of the Negros Fruit Dove remain largely unknown, inferred mostly from its close relatives within the *Ptilinopus* genus. Like other fruit doves, it is presumed to be diurnal and arboreal, spending most of it...
The Negros Fruit Dove is endemic to the central Philippine islands, historically known only from a single specimen collected on Negros Island in 1953. For decades, its status and continued existence were uncertain. However, a significant rediscovery in 2022 confirmed its presence on the neighbori...
Critically Endangered
- For nearly 70 years, the Negros Fruit Dove was known only from a single female specimen collected in 1953, making it one of the world's most enigmatic birds. - The male plumage remained a complete mystery until a presumed male was photographed during its rediscovery on Cebu in 2022, revealing a...