Christmas Island Imperial-pigeon

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Christmas Island Imperial Pigeon
Conservation status
Vulnerable
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae Genus: Ducula Species: D. whartoni
Binomial name
Ducula whartoni (Sharpe, 1887)

The Christmas Island Imperial-Pigeon, Ducula whartoni, is a large (39 cm in length, 450-700 g in weight) pigeon, mainly dark grey in colour with an iridescent sheen.

Contents 1 Distribution 2 Habitat 3 Food 4 Nesting 5 Voice 6 Conservation 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Distribution

Endemic to Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean.

[edit] Habitat

Plateau rainforest and secondary growth with fruiting trees.

[edit] Food

Fruit from forest trees with occasional buds and leaves.

[edit] Nesting

Platform nest of twigs high in forest tree.

[edit] Voice

Deep booming call.

[edit] Conservation

Classified as Vulnerable because of small population and very limited distribution. Threats include illegal hunting and predation by introduced Yellow Crazy Ants Anoplolepis gracilipes.

[edit] See also

• Birds of Christmas Island

[edit] References

• BirdLife International (2006) Species factsheet: Ducula whartoni. Accessed 24/1/2007
• Higgins, P.J.; & Davies, S.J.J.F. (Eds.). (1996). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 3. Snipe to Pigeons. Oxford University Press: Melbourne. ISBN 0-19-553070-5

[edit] External links

DEH - Christmas Island fauna - birds Birds of Christmas Island