Kingdom Animalia Order Columbiformes Genus Ducula Higher classification Imperial pigeon | Phylum Chordata Family Columbidae Scientific name Ducula aurorae Rank Species | |
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Similar Imperial pigeon, Pigeons and doves, Marquesan imperial pigeon, Bird, Vanuatu imperial pigeon | ||
The Polynesian imperial pigeon (Ducula aurorae) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
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Description
This pigeon is approximately 51 cm tall. It is a large, knob-billed pigeon with broad rounded wings. Its plumage is silver-grey on its head and most of underparts with dark bronzy-green upperparts and black undertail-coverts.
Ecology and conservation
This species is formerly found in dense forests but has since been found in secondary habitat such as gardens. It feeds on fruit of a great variety of native and introduced trees. It is now an important seed disperser on Makatea, accelerating the spread of native forest into areas which had been mined and deforested. A 2009 estimate suggested a current population size of only 1000-1600 individuals.