Pacific imperial pigeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pacific imperial pigeon |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ducula
|
| Species: |
pacifica
|
The Pacific imperial pigeon is a large, beautiful bird. It is also called the Pacific pigeon, Pacific fruit pigeon, or lupe in some places. This pigeon is part of the pigeon family.
You can find this bird on many islands across the Pacific Ocean. It lives in places like American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna Islands.
Contents
Naming the Pacific Pigeon
Scientists give every animal a special two-part name. This helps everyone know exactly which animal they are talking about. The Pacific imperial pigeon's scientific name is Ducula pacifica.
A German scientist named Johann Friedrich Gmelin first described this bird in 1789. He gave it the name Columba pacifica. Later, in 1836, another scientist, Brian Houghton Hodgson, created the group Ducula for imperial pigeons. This is where the Pacific imperial pigeon belongs today. The name Ducula comes from a Latin word meaning "leader."
Types of Pacific Imperial Pigeons
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the Pacific imperial pigeon:
- D. p. sejuncta: This type lives on small islands near northern New Guinea. It is also found in parts of the Bismarck Archipelago.
- D. p. pacifica: This type is more widespread. It lives from the Louisiade Archipelago to the Solomon Islands. You can also find it in Fiji, American Samoa, Tonga, Niue, and the Cook Islands.
What Does the Pacific Pigeon Look Like?
The Pacific imperial pigeon is about 36 to 41 centimeters (about 14 to 16 inches) long. It weighs between 370 and 420 grams (about 13 to 15 ounces).
Its back, tail, and wings are a dark greenish-black color. Its head and neck are light grey. The chest is grey with a pretty pinkish tint. The feathers under its tail are brown. The bird has a black beak with a small bump on top. Its eyes are red. Female pigeons are usually a little smaller than males. Young pigeons do not have the bump on their beak. They also look a bit duller and do not have the pink color on their chest.
Where the Pacific Pigeon Lives
These pigeons live in warm, wet forests. They prefer forests on smaller islands. On bigger islands, they live in forests found on mountains.
These birds often fly between different islands to find food. Sometimes, many pigeons will gather together in trees that have lots of fruit. They might travel long distances to find the best places to eat.
Pacific Pigeon Behaviour
Food and Feeding
The Pacific imperial pigeon loves to eat fruit! It eats many different kinds of fruit. Sometimes, it will also eat leaves and flowers.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Pacific imperial pigeon pairs build their nests high up in trees. They make a messy nest out of twigs, which helps to hide it. The nest usually does not have a soft lining inside.
Female pigeons usually lay only one egg. Both the male and female pigeon take turns sitting on the egg to keep it warm until it hatches.
Protecting the Pacific Pigeon
The number of Pacific imperial pigeons has gone down in some areas. This is because their homes (habitats) are being lost. People also used to hunt them a lot.
However, the pigeon is still common in many parts of its range. Because of this, it is listed as a species of "least concern" by the IUCN. This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing. The pigeons are most at risk on smaller islands.
In ancient times, people in Tonga and Samoa hunted these pigeons. They used special traps built on stone platforms. These hunts were very important to their culture.
In Niue, this bird is called a Lupe. It is a special food for the local people. Now, the Lupe is protected by law, but some people still hunt them. Scientists are not sure where these birds build their nests or where they come from in Niue, as no nests have ever been found there.
