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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Columbidae
  4. ›
  5. Ducula
  6. ›
  7. Torresian Imperial Pigeon
Torresian Imperial Pigeon
Photo · (c) Jane C Frost, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Torresian Imperial Pigeon

Ducula spilorrhoa(Gray, GR, 1858)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Native
Order
COLUMBIFORMES
Family
Columbidae
Genus
Ducula

At a glance

The Torresian Imperial Pigeon is a large bird, about 38–44 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
38–44 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Torresian Imperial Pigeon look like?

The Torresian Imperial Pigeon is a large bird, about 38–44 cm long and weighing 378–550 g.

The Torresian imperial pigeon, also known as the nutmeg pigeon, white nutmeg pigeon, Australian pied imperial pigeon or Torres Strait pigeon, is a relatively large, pied species of pigeon. It is found in forest, woodland, savanna, mangrove and scrub in Australia, New Guinea, Aru Islands, islands in the Geelvink Bay, D'Entrecasteaux Islands and Louisiade Archipelago.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
38–44 cm
Weight
378–550 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Torresian Imperial Pigeon?

The Torresian 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

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Suzanne Muzic · Chesney Rd, Bartle Frere, QLD, AU

Call

Tim · Cairns North QLD 4870, Australia

Call

Steve Fitzgerald · Queensland, AU

Call

Steve Fitzgerald · Queensland, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Torresian Imperial Pigeon eat?

The Torresian Imperial Pigeon feeds on fruit, usually foraging in flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Torresian Imperial Pigeon live in Australia?

The Torresian Imperial Pigeon is native to Australia, recorded across 27 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingNorth-west, north-east, south and south-east New Guinea and satellites, and Torres Strait is., coastal north-east WA to east-central QLD (north Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Breeding
  • Resident

4 regions recorded