Spotted imperial pigeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spotted imperial pigeon |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ducula
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| Species: |
carola
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The spotted imperial pigeon (Ducula carola) is a beautiful bird found only in the Philippines. It's also called the grey-necked imperial pigeon. This pigeon lives in forests and along the edges of forests. Sometimes, it flies down to rocky shorelines near the sea.
Sadly, the spotted imperial pigeon is a vulnerable species. This means its population is decreasing, mainly because its home (habitat) is being lost and because of hunting. It is against the law in the Philippines to hunt, catch, or own these pigeons. This law is called RA 9147.
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Meet the Spotted Imperial Pigeon
This bird was first described in 1854 by a scientist named Charles Lucien Bonaparte. He named it carola after his daughter, Charlotte.
The spotted imperial pigeon is about 32 to 38 centimeters (about 12 to 15 inches) long.
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Let's look at the carola subspecies, which is one type of spotted imperial pigeon. The male bird has an ash-grey head and neck. Its back and wings are grey with black spots. Some parts of its wings have a shiny green look. The underside of its wings is light grey. Its tail is blackish with a green shine.
The male's throat is creamy white. Its chest is dark grey with a white crescent shape. Its belly is dark reddish-brown. Its feet are purple or pinkish-red. The beak is reddish, and its eyes are whitish.
Female spotted imperial pigeons have browner upper parts. They do not have the white crescent on their chest. Young birds look similar to the females but are not as brightly colored. The other two types of spotted imperial pigeons have different patterns on their chests and different colored upper parts.
Different Types of Spotted Imperial Pigeons
Scientists recognize three different types, or subspecies, of the spotted imperial pigeon:
- D. c. carola: This type lives on the islands of Luzon, Mindoro, and Sibuyan. It has a grey chest and slaty grey wings.
- D. c. nigrorum: This type lives on Negros and Siquijor islands. It has a black chest and light reddish-brown wings. This type might no longer exist.
- D. c. mindanensis: This type lives on Mindanao island. It has a black chest and reddish-brown wings.
Where They Live and Their Home
The spotted imperial pigeon lives only in the Philippines. It has been seen on Luzon, Mindoro, Sibuyan, Negros, Siquijor, and Mindanao. However, it might have disappeared from some of these islands.
These birds make their homes in forests and along the edges of forests. This includes areas where some trees have been cut down. They usually live below 2,000 meters (about 6,560 feet) above sea level.
Sometimes, these pigeons visit limestone shorelines. Scientists are still studying why they do this.
Pigeon Life and Habits
Spotted imperial pigeons often fly in large groups, sometimes with more than 30 birds. They are also seen with green imperial pigeons.
These pigeons make different sounds. They can make a "po po po po po" sound or a "hu hu hu hu hu" call. Birds kept in captivity make low "oomph" notes.
They love to eat fruits from trees like Eugenia and Ficus. They probably lay their eggs and raise their young between February and July. One nest was found in a hollow spot on a cliff.
The pigeons travel long distances every day and throughout the year. They do this to find food. They also visit limestone shorelines seasonally. Richard Ruiz, who has watched these pigeons at the Pasuquin shoreline since 2011, thinks these trips might be a way for the birds to "socialize." Other ideas are that the pigeons fly to the coast to get calcium and other nutrients. These nutrients are important for making their eggshells strong. Some people also think the birds go to the coast to drink or bathe in saltwater.
Protecting the Spotted Imperial Pigeon
There are an estimated 2,500 to 9,999 adult spotted imperial pigeons left in the wild. The total number of birds, including young ones, is thought to be between 3,500 and 15,000.
This species might have disappeared from Sibuyan, Mindoro, and Siquijor islands. In the 1950s, it was common on Negros, but it hasn't been seen there recently. Its numbers have also gone down on Luzon and Mindanao.
The biggest threats to these birds are losing their forest homes and hunting. Some spotted imperial pigeons have also been caught and sold as pets.
Good news is that these pigeons live in protected areas like the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and Mt. Kitanglad Natural Park. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the spotted imperial pigeon as a vulnerable species. This means it needs special protection to survive.
