Metallic pigeon

The metallic pigeon, (Columba vitiensis) also known as white-throated pigeon is a medium-sized, up to 37 cm long, bird in the family Columbidae.

Metallic pigeon
At San Diego Zoo
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columba
Species:
C. vitiensis
Binomial name
Columba vitiensis
Quoy & Gaimard, 1830

Identification

The adult has an iridescent purple and green crown, black wing and uppertail coverts, yellowish red iris, yellow bill, red orbital skin, white or grey chin and ear coverts, and purplish feet. It has a dull chestnut or glossed purple green below, depends on subspecies. The nominate form C. v. vitiensis from Fiji has a dull underparts, while subspecies C. v. halmaheira of Maluku Islands has the most iridescent plumage. Both sexes are similar. The young is duller than adult.

Distribution

The metallic pigeon is distributed to tropical forests of eastern Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Samoa and surrounding southwest Pacific islands. A subspecies, the Lord Howe pigeon, used to exist on Lord Howe Island in Australia, but was exterminated by hunting c. 1853.

Food

The diet consists mainly of various fruits, grains, seeds and berries. The female usually lays one to two eggs.

Conservation

Widespread and common throughout its large range, the metallic pigeon is evaluated as being of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

  • C. vitiensis griseogularis
  • At San Diego Zoo
  • C. vitiensis godmanae

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Columba vitiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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