Orange-breasted Green Pigeon

Overview

The orange-breasted green pigeon is a species of pigeon found across tropical Asia, ranging from the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia. Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, it inhabits forest environments from the lower Himalayas to coastal areas in Sri Lanka.

Identification

• Males feature a yellowish-green crown, blue-grey nape, and a narrow lilac band on the upper breast above a broader orange band, whereas females have a bright yellow breast without the bands.
• The undertail coverts are cinnamon-coloured, edged with yellow in males and possessing duller, greenish-spotted appearance in females.
• The tail is grey above with a broad subterminal dark band, and the uppertail coverts are bronzed.
• The call consists of a low, subdued series of modulated wandering whistles.

Habitat

This species is widely distributed in forest habitats across tropical Asia, including the Terai, lower Himalayas below 1,500 m, the Western and Eastern Ghats, and coastal forests in Sri Lanka. Its range extends to Burma, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, Vietnam, Java, and Hainan, with occasional vagrants recorded in locations such as Sindh.

Diet

The pigeon feeds mainly on small fruit and seeds from a wide variety of plants, often joining other frugivores at fruiting figs. It forages quietly and moves slowly along branches, occasionally coming down to the ground to feed.

Did you know?

This pigeon is known to consume the fruits of Strychnos nux-vomica, which are toxic to mammals. During the breeding season, males engage in fights by slapping each other with their wings and pecking one another.