A stocky pigeon with an unusually long, heavy bill. General coloration sooty grey, sooty purple and balckish, forecrown white, iridescent patches on wing coverts and inner S vary from gold to bronzy green or blue. lesser WC dark purplish red, UnT-C chesnut, bill brown, feet and leg red. Sexes similar, but female slightly smaller, with forehead buffy rather than pure white. Juvenile is similar to adult but forecrown grey or brownish and the iridescent wing patches are much reduced in size.
Not Threatened.
A stocky pigeon with an unusually long, heavy bill. General coloration sooty grey, sooty purple and balckish, forecrown white, iridescent patches on wing coverts and inner S vary from gold to bronzy green or blue. lesser WC dark purplish red, UnT-C chesnut, bill brown, feet and leg red. Sexes similar, but female slightly smaller, with forehead buffy rather than pure white. Juvenile is similar to adult but forecrown grey or brownish and the iridescent wing patches are much reduced in size.
36-41 cm, 247 g
Taxonomy:
- Henicophaps albifrons G. R. Gray, 1862, Waigeo. Distinctive genus belonging to the large radiation of bronzewings; may be most closely allied to Chalcophaps. Present species forms a superspecies with H. foersteri. Two subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * albifrons G. R. Gray, 1862 - W Papuan Is (Waigeo, Salawati, Misool), New Guinea and Yapen I. * schlegeli (Rosenberg, 1866) - Aru Is.
Rain forest and monsoon forest, sometimes also teak plantations and forest edges. Occurs in lowlands up to 1200 m, rarely to 2150.
Takes fallen fruits, grubs and insect. Uses it usually long, heavy bill to probe into moist ground and into large fruit. Feeds on the ground.
Appear to take place at least during dry season and early wet season. Little info on movemtes.