Chalcophaps indica

General description: 

The back and wings are bright emerald green. The flight feathers and tail are blackish, and broad black and white bars show on the lower back in flight. The head and underparts are dark vinous pink (in chrysochlora, more brown in longirostris), fading to greyish on the lower belly. The eyes are dark brown, the bill bright red and legs and feet rufous. The male has a white patch on the edge of the shoulders and a grey crown, which the female lacks. Females will tend to have a browner complexion with a grey mark on the shoulder. Immature birds resemble females but have brown scallops on their body and wing plumage. Emerald doves usually occur singly, pairs or in small groups. They are quite terrestrial, often searching for fallen fruit on the ground and spending little time in trees except when roosting. They eat seeds and fruits of a wide variety of plants and are generally tame and approachable. The call is a low soft moaning cooing consisting of about six to seven coos starting quietly and rising. They also call a nasal "hoo-hoo-hoon". Males perform a bobbing dance during courtship.

Conservation status: 

Not Threatened.

Diagnostic description: 

The back and wings are bright emerald green. The flight feathers and tail are blackish, and broad black and white bars show on the lower back in flight. The head and underparts are dark vinous pink (in chrysochlora, more brown in longirostris), fading to greyish on the lower belly. The eyes are dark brown, the bill bright red and legs and feet rufous. The male has a white patch on the edge of the shoulders and a grey crown, which the female lacks. Females will tend to have a browner complexion with a grey mark on the shoulder. Immature birds resemble females but have brown scallops on their body and wing plumage. Emerald doves usually occur singly, pairs or in small groups. They are quite terrestrial, often searching for fallen fruit on the ground and spending little time in trees except when roosting. They eat seeds and fruits of a wide variety of plants and are generally tame and approachable. The call is a low soft moaning cooing consisting of about six to seven coos starting quietly and rising. They also call a nasal "hoo-hoo-hoon". Males perform a bobbing dance during courtship.

Behaviour: 

Size: 

Dove is a stocky, medium-sized pigeon, typically 23 to 28 centimetres (10 to 11.2 inches) in length

Phylogeny: 

Taxonomy:

    Columba indica Linnaeus, 1758, Ambon. Genus shows affinities to both Australian bronzewings (Phaps and allies) and African spotwinged doves (Turtur). Present species closely related to C. stephani, with which largely allopatric; distributions suggest that present species may be expanding its range at the expense of C. stephani, for example in Moluccas and W Papuan Is. Race chrysochlora may merit treatment as separate species (incorporating longirostris and sandwichensis). Many races described, some based on very minor differences. May include C. norfolciensis, a name long us.. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Distribution: 

Subspecies and Distribution:

    * indica (Linnaeus, 1758) - Indian Subcontinent (S from Himalayan foothills), S China (SE Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Hainan), Taiwan and S Ryukyu Is, S through SE Asia and Philippines to Greater and Lesser Sundas (E to Alor), Sulawesi, Moluccas and W Papuan Is. * robinsoni Stuart Baker, 1928 - Sri Lanka. * natalis Lister, 1889 - Christmas I (Indian Ocean). * minima Hartert, 1931 - Numfoor, Biak and Mios Num Is in Geelvink Bay, Irian Jaya. * maxima Hartert, 1931 - Andaman Is. * augusta Bonaparte, 1855 - Nicobar Is. * chrysochlora (Wagler, 1827) - E Lesser Sundas, from Wetar and Timor E to Tanimbar Is and N to Banda and Kai Is (E Moluccas), and New Guinea E from Astrolabe Bay in N and Hall Sound in S to D'Entrecasteaux and Trobriand Is and Louisiade Archipelago, then on to E ¬Australia (S to Victoria, and ranging to SW Australia); also Lord Howe I and Norfolk I, where perhaps introduced. * longirostris Gould, 1848 - N Australia, in N Western Australia (Kimberley region) and Northern Territory. * sandwichensis E. P. Ramsay, 1878 - Santa Cruz Is, Banks Is and Vanuatu, and New Caledonia.
Habitat: 

This is a common species in rainforest and similar dense wet woodlands, farms, gardens, mangroves and coastal heaths. It builds a scant stick nest in a tree up to five metres and lays two cream-coloured eggs. Breeding tends to occur in Australia spring or early summer in southeastern Australia and late in the dry season in northern Australia.

Trophic strategy: 

Primarily friut and seeds with some invertebrates (including termites and snails). Wide variety of plant families consumed.

Reproduction: 

Throughout the year in many areas, often with peak from late dry season thorugh wet season. Nest is slight platform of twigs, placed in tree, epiphytic fern. Lays 2 cream-coloured eggs. 14-16 days incubation

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith