Macropygia doreya
The Sultan's Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia doreya) is a slender, long-tailed dove of the family Columbidae, closely related to other cuckoo-doves in the genus Macropygia. Measuring approximately 33-38 cm (13-15 inches) in length, with its tail comprising a significant portion, this species is characterized by its predominantly reddish-brown to rufous plumage. Adult males exhibit an iridescent purplish-pink or greenish gloss on the hindneck and nape, while their upperparts are richer in color and un...
Inhabits primary and secondary lowland to mid-montane rainforests, forest edges, and sometimes disturbed areas or overgrown gardens. Typically found from sea level up to 1800 meters elevation, occasionally higher.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of small fruits and berries, often swallowed whole. Also occasionally eats seeds.
Sultan's Cuckoo-Doves are diurnal and often shy, making them challenging to observe in dense foliage. They typically forage solitarily, in pairs, or in small loose groups, primarily gleaning fruits and berries from trees and shrubs, occasionally descending to the ground. Courtship involves charac...
The Sultan's Cuckoo-Dove has an extensive range across the Indonesian Archipelago and New Guinea, generally as a resident species. It is found throughout much of New Guinea (including West Papua and Papua New Guinea) and numerous surrounding islands. Subspecies distributions include *M. d. doreya...
Least Concern
- The Sultan's Cuckoo-Dove's specific name, 'doreya,' refers to Doreh (modern-day Manokwari) in West Papua, where the species was first described. - Its extremely long tail, characteristic of the Macropygia genus, can make up almost half of its total body length. - Despite its relatively large si...