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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Columbidae
  4. ›
  5. Ducula
  6. ›
  7. Pied Imperial Pigeon

BirdUp · Species

Pied Imperial Pigeon

Ducula bicolor(Scopoli, 1786)

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Native
Order
COLUMBIFORMES
Family
Columbidae
Genus
Ducula

At a glance

The Pied Imperial Pigeon, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

The pied imperial pigeon is a relatively large, pied species of pigeon. It is found in forest, woodland, mangrove, plantations and scrub in Southeast Asia, ranging from Myanmar and Thailand, throughout Indonesia and east to the Philippines and the Bird's Head Peninsula in New Guinea. It is mainly found on small islands and in coastal regions. It remains locally common, and is therefore considered to be of least concern by BirdLife International and IUCN.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

  • These social pigeons often commute in large flocks, forming high, organized lines or V-formations when traveling across open water.

flight

  • In flight, the bright white wing linings and body create a striking, sharp contrast against the solid black outer wing feathers.

plumage

  • The plumage is almost entirely bright white except for jet-black flight feathers and a black tail tip; the thighs and undertail coverts are characteristically clean and unmarked white.

size_and_shape

  • Observe the heavy-set, bulky silhouette and the pale bluish-grey bill, which features a distinct, narrow dark tip.

voice

  • Listen for a deep, resonant 'm-woo' or a booming 'coo-woo' that carries clearly through the canopy.

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Pied Imperial Pigeon?

The Pied Imperial Pigeon is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Pied Imperial Pigeon live in Australia?

The Pied Imperial Pigeon is native to Australia, recorded across 22 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingAndaman Is., south-east Asia, Philippines, Indonesian Arch., Raja Ampat Is. (north-west of New Guinea) and coasts of Bird'south Head and Neck (north-west New Guinea)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Breeding
  • Vagrant
  • Resident

5 regions recorded