Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon

Overview

The wedge-tailed green pigeon, also known as the Kokla green pigeon, is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Greenish yellow plumage with a wedge-shaped tail.
• Males feature an orange-rufous crown and a variable amount of maroon on the back and scapular feathers, while females lack this maroon coloring.
• Exhibits sexually dimorphic plumage, typical of green pigeons.

Habitat

This species inhabits subtropical or tropical moist lowland and montane forests across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Its range extends across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam.

Did you know?

A 2023 archaeological study identified a sculpture at the ruins of the Da-Parbatiya temple in Tezpur as a potential depiction of the wedge-tailed green pigeon, linking the bird to the Shiva Purana story where the god Agni takes the form of a pigeon.