Sumatran green pigeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sumatran green pigeon |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Columbiformes |
| Family: | Columbidae |
| Genus: | Treron |
| Species: |
T. oxyurus
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| Binomial name | |
| Treron oxyurus (Temminck, 1823)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Sumatran green pigeon (Treron oxyurus) is a type of bird in the pigeon family, called Columbidae. A Dutch scientist named Coenraad Jacob Temminck first described it in 1823. This pigeon lives only in Indonesia, specifically on the islands of Sumatra and western Java.
These pigeons live high up in the trees, in the canopy of thick hill and montane forests. On Sumatra, they are found at heights from 350 to 1,800 meters (about 1,150 to 5,900 feet). On Java, they live even higher, from 600 to 3,000 meters (about 2,000 to 9,800 feet).
The Sumatran green pigeon is a slim bird with a long, pointed tail. Males are about 29 to 34 centimeters (11.4 to 13.4 inches) long. Females are a bit smaller, around 28 to 29 centimeters (10.9 to 11.4 inches) long. Males have a dark green body, bright yellow lower belly, and a dark grey tail. They also have bluish-green patches around their eyes. Females look a bit duller and have fewer bright colors.
These pigeons eat fruits, especially figs. They gather in groups of up to 50 birds to sleep at night. In the early morning, they fly out to find food and return to their roosts in the late afternoon. Sadly, the Sumatran green pigeon is considered near-threatened. This means its population is getting smaller because its home is being destroyed.
Contents
About the Sumatran Green Pigeon
How Scientists Named This Bird
The Sumatran green pigeon was first described in 1823 by a Dutch zoologist, Coenraad Jacob Temminck. He first called it Columba oxyura. Over time, scientists moved it into different groups, or genera, like Columba, Treron, and Vinago.
In 1837, a British naturalist named William Swainson created a new genus, Sphenurus, just for this pigeon. Later, in 1840, another English scientist, George Robert Gray, made a different genus called Sphenocercus.
In the 1930s, an American ornithologist, James Lee Peters, grouped many fruit pigeons into just a few genera, including Spenurus. Then, in 1950, an Indian ornithologist, Biswamoy Biswas, combined Spenurus with Treron. Today, the Sumatran green pigeon is officially placed in the genus Treron.
The name Treron comes from an Ancient Greek word meaning 'pigeon' or 'dove'. The second part of its scientific name, oxyurus, also comes from Ancient Greek words meaning 'sharp-tail' or 'pointed-tail'. The official common name is Sumatran green pigeon. Other names include yellow-bellied pin-tailed green pigeon. In Indonesian, it's called Punai salung.
This pigeon is closely related to the wedge-tailed and yellow-vented green pigeons.
What the Sumatran Green Pigeon Looks Like
The Sumatran green pigeon is a slender bird with a long, wedge-shaped tail. Males are about 29 to 34 centimeters (11.4 to 13.4 inches) long. Females are slightly shorter, around 27.7 to 29.0 centimeters (10.9 to 11.4 inches). Their wings are about 15.9 to 17.0 centimeters (6.3 to 6.7 inches) long for males and 15.6 to 15.7 centimeters (6.1 to 6.2 inches) for females. Their tails are about 10.2 to 11.9 centimeters (4.0 to 4.7 inches) long for both sexes.
Adult males have a dark green head and body. Their lower belly and the feathers under their tail are bright yellow. Their tail is dark grey. They have patches of unfeathered skin on their face that are bluish-green. The top of their head and neck are dark green, and their chest has a hint of rusty-orange.
The feathers under their tail are black with a grey band. The central tail feathers are long and pointed, with a greenish tint. The skin around their eyes and bill is pale green to turquoise. Their eyes are pale purple to orange with a blue inner ring, and their feet are pinkish-red.
Adult females are not as brightly colored as males. They don't have the grey on the back of their neck. Their chest has a fainter orange color, and their undertail feathers are yellower with dark streaks. They also don't have orange marks on their head or wings.
Young pigeons look similar to females. Their central tail feathers are more rounded. Very young birds have paler skin around their eyes and bills.
The Wedge-tailed green pigeon looks similar and lives in the same areas. However, it has more rounded, duller tail feathers. It also has feathered skin around its eyes, unlike the Sumatran green pigeon.
How They Sound
The Sumatran green pigeon has a song made of fast, rich whistles. It often includes two-syllable whistles, ending with a rising coo-wha or coo-whow. Their call sounds like a whistling coo-wok or coaa-cooa, with the second note going up in pitch.
Where They Live and Their Habitat
The Sumatran green pigeon lives only in Indonesia. You can find them on the island of Sumatra and in western Java. On Sumatra, they live in the Barisan Mountains. On Java, they are found in the western mountains.
They prefer to live in the canopy of dense hill and montane forests. On Sumatra, they are found at elevations from 350 to 1,800 meters (about 1,150 to 5,900 feet). On Java, they live higher, from 600 to 3,000 meters (about 2,000 to 9,800 feet). They sometimes move to different areas but usually stay close to thick hill forests.
Life Cycle and Behavior
What They Eat
These pigeons eat fruits, especially figs. They often feed in groups. They sleep together in flocks of up to 50 birds. In the early morning, they leave their sleeping spots to find food. They return to roost in the late afternoon.
Reproduction
Scientists have seen these pigeons breeding in January and September on Sumatra. On Java, breeding has been observed in June. Both male and female pigeons help build the nest. They bring twigs to build it in the early morning.
Nests have been found in trees like Syzygium aqueum, Syzygium aromaticum, and Casuarina trees. These nests are usually built between 2.5 and 6 meters (about 8 to 20 feet) above the ground. Each nest holds one or two eggs. Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm until they hatch.
Protecting the Sumatran Green Pigeon
The Sumatran green pigeon is listed as near-threatened on the IUCN Red List. This means its population is "moderately small" and continues to shrink. The main reason for this decline is habitat degradation, which means their natural homes are being damaged or destroyed.
This pigeon used to be common in its range, but now it's rare on Sumatra and very rare on Java. Forests are being lost due to logging and fires, especially in lower areas. This has made the pigeon's habitat scattered. We don't have an exact number for how many Sumatran green pigeons there are, but their population is thought to be decreasing.
The species is also threatened by the wildlife trade. Some birds have been found for sale in markets. For example, over 300 were offered for sale in Takengon, Aceh, in 2015.
The Sumatran green pigeon lives in several protected areas. These include Mount Halimun Salak National Park on Java and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park on Sumatra. However, it is not currently protected by Indonesian law.
To help these birds, scientists recommend several actions:
- Find out the exact size of their population.
- Keep track of their numbers to see if they are increasing or decreasing.
- Investigate how much hunting affects them.
- Protect the montane forests where they live across their range.
 | Ernest Everett Just |
 | Mary Jackson |
 | Emmett Chappelle |
 | Marie Maynard Daly |
