Steve Hitchcock
Pied Imperial-Pigeon - Ducula bicolor. Male
The Pied Imperial-Pigeon is found from the western Bay of Bengal eastward to the Philippines and south through Indonesia and New Guinea to northern Australia.
This pigeon is found on offshore islands and the mainland of northern and north-eastern Australia. It is found in a variety of wooded habitats, such as mangroves, rain forest and in forests of Eucalyptus and Melaleuca.
Pied Imperial-Pigeons are fruit eaters, eating from tropical trees, palms, vines and bushes. They feed in the dense canopies of trees but occasionally near the ground in shrubs or small trees.
In some areas of eastern Queensland population sizes have decreased, perhaps due to habitat loss, shooting and other human disturbances. However some populations have recovered to some extent. Pied Imperial-Pigeons used to be shot in large numbers, at breeding sites, but they have been protected since 1902. Nesting birds are easily disturbed by human activities.
Photographed Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Steve Hitchcock © All rights reserved
Pied Imperial-Pigeon - Ducula bicolor. Male
The Pied Imperial-Pigeon is found from the western Bay of Bengal eastward to the Philippines and south through Indonesia and New Guinea to northern Australia.
This pigeon is found on offshore islands and the mainland of northern and north-eastern Australia. It is found in a variety of wooded habitats, such as mangroves, rain forest and in forests of Eucalyptus and Melaleuca.
Pied Imperial-Pigeons are fruit eaters, eating from tropical trees, palms, vines and bushes. They feed in the dense canopies of trees but occasionally near the ground in shrubs or small trees.
In some areas of eastern Queensland population sizes have decreased, perhaps due to habitat loss, shooting and other human disturbances. However some populations have recovered to some extent. Pied Imperial-Pigeons used to be shot in large numbers, at breeding sites, but they have been protected since 1902. Nesting birds are easily disturbed by human activities.
Photographed Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Steve Hitchcock © All rights reserved