Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon

Overview

The pink-bellied imperial pigeon, also known as the zone-tailed pigeon, is a large and striking dove found in the Philippines. Classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN but Critically Endangered on the Philippine Red List, this monotypic species is extremely poorly known and faces threats from habitat loss, trapping, and hunting.

Identification

• Large pigeon up to 42 cm long with a pale gray or white head, dark bluish-gray chest and upper back, and green wings.
• Whitish belly with a pink tinge and rufous under the base of the tail, which features a brown, black, and gray pattern.
• Distinctive large red eye-ring and red eyes and eye ceres.
• Song is a deep, booming, upslurred "doo-dup! doo-dup!" that can be heard from a distance.

Habitat

Found in tropical moist lowland forest and montane forest up to 1,500 m altitude throughout the Philippines. It is extremely rare in Luzon but more commonly observed in Negros Island, Mindoro, Samar, and Mindanao, with recent reports suggesting it may no longer be extinct on Cebu.

Diet

The species is a frugivore and usually occurs singly or in small groups, sometimes mixed with other dove species such as the Mindoro imperial pigeon and Spotted imperial pigeon.

Did you know?

These birds are strong fliers capable of flying between islands. They have been successfully bred in captivity by the Talarak Foundation in Negros.