Pacific Emerald Dove
Chalcophaps longirostris· 鸠鸽科(3 photos)
Pacific Emerald Dove
23-28 cm. Small dark pinkish brown to purplish brown pigeon with bronzed emerald-green wings; flight feathers dark brown; two pale grey bars cross lower back; bill and legs orange to maroon. Male: white shoulder-patch. Female: browner; grey mark on shoulder; less distinct bars on rump. Juvenile: brown, barred rufous and black on body, greenish on wings. Singles, pairs, parties: feeds unobtrusively on ground in shady cover; tame around settlement. Moves ahead of observer on forest tracks; departs with clatter; flight, low, fast; weaves through tree-trunks showing buff underwing and chestnut patch on flight feathers; settles, remains motionless.
- Other name
- Emerald Pigeon, Green Dove, Green-winged Pigeon, Emerald Dove.
- Voice
- 6 to 12 or more low-pitched moaning coos, starting softly and accelerating; also nasal 'hoo-hoo-hoon'.
- Habitat
- edges/clearings in rainforest; tropical, subtropical scrubs; wet eucalypt forest; lantana, coastal heaths, scrubs, mangroves, fruiting trees, farms, gardens; drier habitats in winter.
- Breeding
- spring-early summer in se. Aust.; late dry season, early wet in n. Aust.
- Nest
- scanty platform of twigs in shrub, tree limb or fork; fern, vine or lantana, up to 5 m.
- Eggs
- 2; creamy-white.
- Range & Status
- coastal n. and e. Aust. and islands: race longirostris from c. Walcott Inlet, Kimberley (WA) through Top End (NT); race rogersi from C. York Pen. (Q), s. through coastal e. Aust. to c. Shoalhaven R. (NSW), casual s. Vic. and sw. WA; also Lord Howe and Norfolk Is. Common, dispersive, nomadic.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Chalcophaps longirostris longirostris 2. Chalcophaps longirostris rogersi
