Mindoro imperial pigeon

The Mindoro imperial pigeon (Ducula mindorensis), also known as Mindoro Zone-tailed pigeon (Zonophaps mindorensis),[2] Great Mindoro pigeon or Pink-throated Imperial pigeon, is a bird species in the family Columbidae.[3] It is endemic to the mountains of Mindoro in central Philippines.[3][4][5][6][7]

Mindoro imperial pigeon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Ducula
Species:
D. mindorensis
Binomial name
Ducula mindorensis
(Whitehead, 1896)

It is classified as being Endangered according to the IUCN Red List.[5][8] Its main threats are habitat loss and hunting.[3][5][6][9]

Description

The Mindoro imperial pigeon is the largest Philippine pigeon.[7] It measures from 42 cm to 50 cm in length.[2][6] Its wings are about 24 cm long and its tail measures from 15 cm to 17 cm.[2][6] Its forehead and throat are both pinkish grey. The head, neck and most underparts are bluish grey, darkest on the belly and under the tail. The hind neck goes from dark grey to black around the upper part of its back. The rest of the back and the inner wings go from a bronzy red colour to a green colour. The majority of the upper parts of the bird are emerald green. It has a black ring around and extending behind the eye. The tail is greenish black with an obvious grey band in the centre.[10] The feathers under the tail are grey with a cinnamon coloured tinge. They have a black bill and their legs are pinkish red.[5][6] In males, the iris is bright yellow and the eyelids are red. In females, the iris is brownish yellow and the eyelids are yellow orange.[2][3][6][7][9] No information on juvenile plumage was recorded.[3][6]

Taxonomy

The Mindoro imperial pigeon is a bird from the genus Ducula, otherwise known as the group consisting of imperial pigeons.[11] The species Ducula mindorensis, formerly known as Carpophaga mindorensis and Zonophaps mindorensis, was first described by John Whitehead in 1896.[3] Together with Ducula radiata, it forms a superspecies.[3] It is also known to be closely related to Ducula poliocephala and Ducula forsteni, and these three species together may relate Ptilinopus fruit doves to other imperial pigeons.[3][10]

Habitat and distribution

The Mindoro imperial pigeon is distributed throughout Mindoro, where sufficient closed canopy forests remain. They used to be found mostly in mountain forests above 1000m.[2][3][4][12] However, in 1991, most of the observations were made in understory trees of the remaining low altitude forests of Mindoro (800-950m). This species is rare and uncommon, but known to be found more easily in Mount Ilong and Mount Halcon.[5][6][9] Its habitat is threatened by logging,[3][6][9] cultivation, deforestation and forest destruction.[5]

Behaviour

The Mindoro imperial pigeon can be seen singly, in pairs or in groups up to four individuals.[2][6][7][9] This species tends to roost together with Ducula poliocephala and Columba vitiensis in the canopy.[3][6][9] They tend to be inconspicuous, making it difficult to observe when roosting.[6][9]

Vocalization

No recordings were found,[5] but it is known to be a distinct disyllabic call.[6][9] Their voice is similar to the other imperial pigeons of Mindoro, but much more resonant and deeper.[6] The Mindoro imperial pigeon's call is frequently heard at dawn.[2][6]

Diet

Little to no information is known about their diet.[3] The Mindoro imperial pigeon was seen feeding on fruits, from small berries[6][9] up to large ones as big as the size of a pigeon's egg.[2][6][3]

Reproduction

No information can be found about their breeding behaviours.[3][4][7] One male was recorded as being in breeding conditions in April and one immature was found in August.[6]

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References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Ducula mindorensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. MacGregor, Richard Crittenden. (1909). A manual of Philippine birds. Bureau of Printing. p. 49. OCLC 716081366.
  3. Elliott, Andrew. Hoyo, Josep del. Sargatal, Jordi. (1994). Handbook of the birds of the world. 4. Lynx Edicions. pp. 228. ISBN 8487334156. OCLC 1101349722.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. Dickinson, Edward C. (1991). The birds of the Philippines : an annotated check-list. Kennedy, Robert S., Parkes, Kenneth C. (Kenneth Carrol). Tring, Herts., UK: British Ornithologists' Union. pp. 188–189. ISBN 0907446124. OCLC 26549484.
  5. BirdLife International (2019) Species factsheet: Ducula mindorensis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org+on+15/10/2019
  6. Gibbs, David, 1958- (2001). Pigeons and doves : a guide to the pigeons and doves of the world. Cox, John, 1967-, Barnes, Eustace. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 529–530. ISBN 0300078862. OCLC 45809450.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. Kennedy, Robert S. (2000). A guide to the birds of the Philippines. Oxford University Press. p. 143. ISBN 0198546696. OCLC 43936896.
  8. BirdLife International 2016. Ducula mindorensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22691622A93318964. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22691622A93318964.en. Downloaded on 15 October 2019.
  9. Dutson, Guy C. L.; Evans, Tom D.; Brooks, Thomas M.; Asane, Desiderio C.; Timmins, Robert J.; Toledo, Angela (1992). "Conservation status of birds on Mindoro, Philippines". Bird Conservation International. 2 (4): 303–325. doi:10.1017/s0959270900002513. ISSN 0959-2709.
  10. GOODWIN, DEREK (2008-06-28). "Taxonomy of the Genus Ducula". Ibis. 102 (4): 526–535. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919x.1960.tb07129.x. ISSN 0019-1019.
  11. "Ducula Hodgson, 1836". The Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
  12. MRIKA, Hiroyuki; SISON, Rogelio V. (1987). "Birds of the Highlands of Mt. Halcon, Mindoro, Philippines". Japanese Journal of Ornithology. 35 (4): 109–124. doi:10.3838/jjo.35.109. ISSN 0913-400X.
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