Ducula bicolor
The Pied Imperial Pigeon, *Ducula bicolor*, is a strikingly beautiful and easily identifiable large pigeon, measuring 35-43 cm (14-17 in) in length and weighing between 370-520 g (13-18 oz). Its plumage is almost entirely pure white, contrasting sharply with jet-black flight feathers (primaries and secondaries) and a distinct black band on the tip of its tail. Field marks include a pale greenish-yellow bill with a small black cere, and reddish-brown eyes. Taxonomically, it belongs to the fami...
Primarily inhabits coastal forests, mangroves, and dense island woodlands, typically found at low elevations near sea level up to 300 meters.
Feeds almost exclusively on fruit, particularly figs, nutmeg, and palm fruit, foraging by plucking them directly from tree branches.
Diurnal and largely arboreal, the Pied Imperial Pigeon spends its days foraging high in the canopy. It is known for its impressive, often long-distance flights between offshore island roosts and mainland or larger island feeding grounds at dawn and dusk, sometimes involving hundreds of individual...
The Pied Imperial Pigeon has a wide distribution across maritime Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Its breeding and resident range extends from coastal Myanmar and Thailand, through Malaysia, Singapore, and much of Indonesia, encompassing large islands like Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Sulawesi, a...
Least Concern
- The 'pied' in its name refers to its striking two-tone, black and white plumage. - It is a crucial seed disperser, playing a vital ecological role in the regeneration of tropical island forests by consuming and excreting seeds. - Despite its relatively large size, the Pied Imperial Pigeon const...