Mountain Imperial Pigeon Did you see this animal?
Scientific Name : Ducula badia
Family : Columbidae
Order : Columbiformes
Class : Aves
Phylum : Chordata
Other Name : Imperial Pigeon
Habitat : Evergreen forest
Description : The Mountain Imperial Pigeon is a large pigeon with a lilac crown and a copper-brown back and wings tinged with maroon (adult bird length approximately 48 cm, wing 24.5 cm, bill 1.6 cm, tarsus 3 cm, tail 18 cm). Its rump and uppertail-coverts are dark grey-brown, the tail is dark brownish-black. It breeds in March-August. The courtship display of the male includes cooing and bowing with lowered head. This species is typically solitary but can be seen in groups of up to 20 individuals when roosting or flying in mountainous areas. They are often difficult to spot as they spend their time in the high canopy and fly at a considerable altitude. During the breeding display, calling birds puff up their throats, sing, and bow to potential mates. They engage in vertical flights, reaching heights of 6 to 8 meters, before gliding back down with spread wings and tail. Breeding occurs from March to August in northern regions, and from January to May in southern parts of India and Southeast Asia.
Their nests are typically located in small trees, about 5 to 8 meters above the ground, and are flimsy platforms. Usually, one or rarely two eggs are laid, and both parents take turns incubating them, rarely leaving the nest unless necessary. Their diet consists of fruits and berries, with a preference for figs and nutmeg, which they swallow whole after plucking. On occasion, they may descend to the ground to drink water, such as in Bornean mangroves where large flocks have been observed. Partial altitudinal movements may occur in certain regions to find optimal feeding conditions. This species is commonly found in old-growth forests and remains fairly abundant in areas where extensive forest stands persist.
Their nests are typically located in small trees, about 5 to 8 meters above the ground, and are flimsy platforms. Usually, one or rarely two eggs are laid, and both parents take turns incubating them, rarely leaving the nest unless necessary. Their diet consists of fruits and berries, with a preference for figs and nutmeg, which they swallow whole after plucking. On occasion, they may descend to the ground to drink water, such as in Bornean mangroves where large flocks have been observed. Partial altitudinal movements may occur in certain regions to find optimal feeding conditions. This species is commonly found in old-growth forests and remains fairly abundant in areas where extensive forest stands persist.
Distribution in Bangladesh
Other Species from Group
-
Treron curvirostra
(Thick‑billed Green Pigeon) -
Macropygia unchall
(Barred Cuckoo-Dove) -
Spilopelia chinensis
(Eastern Spotted Dove) -
Treron apicauda
(Pin‑tailed Green Pigeon) -
Treron sphenurus
(Wedge‑tailed Green Pigeon) -
Spilopelia senegalensis
(Laughing Dove) -
Columba punicea
(Pale‑capped Pigeon) -
Spilopelia suratensis
(Western Spotted Dove)
Species groups
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Bee-eaters -
Booby -
frigatebird -
phalarope -
tropicbird -
Martins and Swallows -
Crows, Drongos & allies -
Woodpeckers -
Eared Nightjars -
Ibises & Spoonbills
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Trogons -
Coucals -
Pelicans -
Darters
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Gulls -
Warblers and allies -
Flowerpeckers & Sunbirds -
Sparrows, Wagtails, Pipits a& allies -
moonbird -
Hawks & Eagles -
Snipes, Sandpipers, Plovers & allies -
Small Kingfishers -
Cisticola & Prinia -
Plovers & Lapwings -
Rails, Gallinules & Coots -
Tits
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Parrots -
Rosefinches and Buntings -
Bustards -
Grebes -
Pheasants & Partridges -
Old World flycatcher -
Starlings and Mynas -
Hornbills -
Buttonquails -
Rollers -
Bluebirds -
Crested Kingfishers -
Cormorants -
Pigeons and Doves -
Jacanas
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Typical Owl -
Finfoots &booby
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Flamingo
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Herons and Bitterns -
Treecreepers -
Nuthatch
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Barbets -
Treeswifts -
Swifts -
Crab-plovers, Coursers and Pratincoles -
Bulbuls -
Frogmouths
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Larks -
Storks -
Broadbills -
Thick-knees -
Painted-snipes
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Nightjars -
Barn-owls
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Large-billed Kingfishers -
Falcons -
Pittas -
Cranes -
Whistling-ducks -
Ducks, Geese & Swans -
Hoopoe
References:
description written by:Fatema-Tuz-Zohora,Department of Zoology, Jagannath University,Dhaka;information source: Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh, Vol-26, iucnredlist.org;photo credit: Julien Renoult (www.inaturalist.org/people/ Julien Renoult ),photo shared from iNaturalist, photo copyright reserved according to iNaturalist rules;taxonomic checklist:P. M. Thompson and S. U. Chowdhury (2020). A checklist of birds of Bangladesh.Birds Bangladesh;more information, please contact us.
description written by:Fatema-Tuz-Zohora,Department of Zoology, Jagannath University,Dhaka;information source: Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh, Vol-26, iucnredlist.org;photo credit: Julien Renoult (www.inaturalist.org/people/ Julien Renoult ),photo shared from iNaturalist, photo copyright reserved according to iNaturalist rules;taxonomic checklist:P. M. Thompson and S. U. Chowdhury (2020). A checklist of birds of Bangladesh.Birds Bangladesh;more information, please contact us.