The Marquesan imperial pigeon (''Ducula galeata''), also known as the Nukuhiva pigeon or Upe, is a
pigeon which is
endemic to
Nuku Hiva in the
Marquesas Islands of
French Polynesia
)Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze")
, anthem =
, song_type = Regional anthem
, song = " Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui"
, image_map = French Polynesia on the globe (French Polynesia centered).svg
, map_alt = Location of Frenc ...
. This pigeon is only found in some valleys in the western part of that island.
Description
This is the largest pigeon outside of the
crowned pigeon
The crowned pigeons (''Goura'') is a genus of birds in the family Columbidae. It contains four large species of pigeon that are endemic to the island of New Guinea and a few surrounding islands. The species are extremely similar to each other in ...
s, as it weighs approximately 900 grams (2 lb). Females, at long, are slightly smaller than males, at in length. Among standard measurements, the
wing chord is , the
tail is , the
bill
Bill(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
* Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States)
* Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature
* Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer
* Bill, a bird or animal's beak
Plac ...
is and the
tarsus is . This species is heavily built with a large bill and long, broad tail. The wings are broad and rounded in shape.
[David Gibbs, Eustace Barnes & John Cox (2001). ''A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World'' Yale University Press, .]
The Marquesan imperial pigeon is sooty-gray on the head, throat and breast, with a white band just behind the bill that can be seen from some distance. The belly is slightly browner in color than the rest of the underside. The upperparts, wings and tail are glossy green with a bluish tint. The underside of both the tail and the wings are black. The bill is black, with a swollen cere that gives the face a unique sloping look just above the bill.
[
This bird has an cooing advertising call that consist of a loud, deep, guttural neah-ah, neah-ah, neah-ah, neah-ah'' or ''naw-aw, naw-naw'' or ''uh-wah, uh-wah, uh-wah''. This call is so deep in timber that it is sometimes described as cow-like. A call, probably consisting of an excitement call, has been described as a crow-like ''krawk, krawk''.][
]
Habitat
This was originally distributed throughout its native island, which at one time was almost completely covered in forest. Now it is basically restricted to woodland from above sea-level. A few on the island may still turn in sea-level forested groves and woods surrounded banana and orange plantations. Before ancient Polynesian settlers arrived there, subfossil bones show there was also a population of this bird on Henderson Island in the Pitcairn Islands. [
]
Biology
The Marquesan imperial pigeon is normally seen singly or in pairs, often while perched around a fruiting tree. The species is not noticeably shy and may allow fairly close approach while feeding. It favors fruit of up to . Favored foods including '' Mangifera indica'' (a mango
A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree ''Mangifera indica''. It is believed to have originated in the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South a ...
), ''Psidium guajava
''Psidium guajava'', the common guava, yellow guava, lemon guava, or apple guava is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Caribbean, Central America and South America. It is easily pollinated by insects; when cultivated, it is pollina ...
'' (a guava
Guava () is a common tropical fruit cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions. The common guava ''Psidium guajava'' (lemon guava, apple guava) is a small tree in the myrtle family ( Myrtaceae), native to Mexico, Central America, the ...
) and numerous smaller fruit of the genera '' Ficus'', '' Cordia'' and '' Eugenia''. It often spends much of the day perched in tree canopies, often on or near cliffs. It flies to new foraging sites over forested ridges with deep, labored wing beats. While gliding it may fly with wings held quite far back and when descending to land below, it holds its wings along flat against its body.[
Nests have been observed in May, July, September and October, indicating that nesting may occur nearly year-around, or that breeding activities peak around the middle of the year. The parents build a flat structure of stick on a branch at mid-height, at or rarely as low as , in a forest tree. A single glossy white egg is laid. No further information is known of the species breeding habits.][
]
Status
Formerly classified by the IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
as a critically endangered species with an estimated population of less than 150 adult birds,extinct
Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...
ion at least for the time being.BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats. BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding ...
(BLI) (2008)
[2008 IUCN Redlist status changes]
. Retrieved 2008-May-23.
References
External links
BirdLife Species Factsheet
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1264188
Marquesan imperial pigeon
Birds of the Marquesas Islands
Marquesan imperial pigeon
Marquesan imperial pigeon
Endemic fauna of French Polynesia