Common emerald dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common emerald dove |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Chalcophaps
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| Species: |
indica
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| Subspecies | |
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See text |
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| Synonyms | |
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Columba indica Linnaeus, 1758 |
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The Common Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica) is a beautiful pigeon found across parts of Asia. People also call it the Asian Emerald Dove or Green-winged Pigeon. It lives in tropical and subtropical areas, from the Indian Subcontinent to Southeast Asia. This dove is special because it's the state bird of Tamil Nadu, an Indian state.
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What is the Common Emerald Dove?
The Common Emerald Dove is a type of pigeon. It lives in warm, wet places like forests. You can find it in many countries across Asia. This bird is known for its bright green wings.
Where Does the Common Emerald Dove Get Its Name?
Scientists give every animal a special two-part name. For this dove, it's Chalcophaps indica. The word indica means "Indian". This name was given by a famous Swedish scientist named Carl Linnaeus in 1758. He named it after the East Indies, where it was first found.
There are also different types, or subspecies, of the Common Emerald Dove. These are slightly different versions of the same bird. Here are some of them:
- C. i. indica – Found from India to China, Malaysia, and parts of Indonesia.
- C. i. robinsoni – Lives in Sri Lanka.
- C. i. maxima – Found in the Andaman Islands.
- C. i. augusta – Lives in the Nicobar Islands.
- C. i. natalis – Found on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.
- C. i. minima – Lives on small islands off New Guinea.
What Does the Common Emerald Dove Look Like?
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This dove is a medium-sized bird. It is usually about 23 to 27 centimeters (9 to 11 inches) long. Its back and wings are a stunning bright emerald green. Its flight feathers and tail are blackish. When it flies, you can see black and white stripes on its lower back.
The head and belly are a dark pink color. This color fades to grey on its lower belly. It has dark brown eyes and a bright red beak. Its legs and feet are reddish-brown.
You can tell the difference between males and females. Males have a white patch on their shoulders. They also have a grey cap on their head. Females do not have these features. Females often look a bit browner. Young birds look like females but have brown patterns on their body and wings.
Where Do Common Emerald Doves Live?
These doves are common in tropical forests. They also live in wet woodlands, farms, and mangrove areas. They build simple nests out of sticks. These nests are usually in a tree, up to five meters (16 feet) high. The female lays two cream-colored eggs.
How Do Common Emerald Doves Behave?
Emerald doves usually live alone or in pairs. Sometimes you might see them in small groups. They spend a lot of time on the ground. They look for fallen fruits to eat. They also eat seeds from many different plants. They are usually quite calm and easy to approach.
Their flight is fast and straight. They flap their wings regularly. Sometimes they give a sharp flick of their wings. This is common for pigeons. They often fly low through dense forests. If something disturbs them, they might walk away instead of flying. They are very good at flying through thick trees. When they fly, you can see a light brown color under their wings. Their flight feathers are a chestnut color.
The call of the Common Emerald Dove is a soft, low cooing sound. It usually has about six or seven coos. The sound starts quietly and then gets louder. Males also do a special bobbing dance. They do this to attract a mate.
