Christmas Imperial Pigeon | |
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Conservation status | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Columbiformes |
Family: | Columbidae |
Genus: | Ducula |
Species: | D. whartoni |
Binomial name | |
Ducula whartoni (Sharpe, 1887) |
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Synonyms | |
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The Christmas 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 |
The species is endemic to Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean. It inhabits rainforest and secondary growth with fruiting trees.
Fruit from forest trees with occasional buds and leaves.
It builds a platform nest of twigs high in a forest tree.
It utters a deep booming call.
The Christmas Imperial Pigeon is classified as Vulnerable because of its small population and restricted distribution. Threats include illegal hunting and predation by introduced Yellow Crazy Ants Anoplolepis gracilipes.