You are here
Species
Ptilinopus superbus Temminck, 1809
Nomenclature
-
Family: ColumbidaeGenus: Ptilinopus
Species:
Ptilinopus superbus Temminck, 1809
Usage:
valid
Vernacular names:
Vernacular name:
Superb Fruit Dove, Purple-capped(!)/Purple-crowned Fruit-dove, Purple-crowned Pigeon, Superb Fruit-pigeon
SUMMARY
The Superb Fruit-Dove is a small colourful pigeon of the tree canopy. It is a compact bird, with short rounded wings and a short tail. The male has a purple crown, an orange hindneck, a blue-black breastband that separates a grey upper breast from white underparts. These are partly barred green, and the rest of the body is green. The green tail has grey tips. The female is green, with a grey breast and white underparts. There is a smallish purple patch on the crown. Young birds resemble females but lack the purple crown patch. This species is also called the Purple-crowned Fruit Dove or Pigeon, or the Superb Fruit-Pigeon. Slow, steady series of 'whoops'. This distinguishes the Superb Fruit-Dove from the Rose-Crowned fruit Dove.