Polynesian imperial pigeon

Polynesian imperial pigeon
File:Polynesian Imperial Pigeon.jpg
Conservation status
File:Status iucn3.1 EN.svg Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Genus:	Ducula
Species:	D. aurorae
Binomial name
Ducula aurorae (Peale, 1849)

The Polynesian imperial pigeon or Society Islands pigeon (Ducula aurorae) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Description

This pigeon is approximately 51 cm tall. It is a large, knob-billed pigeon with broad rounded wings. Its plumage is silver-grey on its head and most of underparts with dark bronzy-green upperparts and black undertail-coverts.

Ecology and conservation

This species is formerly found in dense forests but has since been found in secondary habitat such as gardens. It feeds on fruit of a great variety of native and introduced trees. It is now an important seed disperser on Makatea, accelerating the spread of native forest into areas which had been mined and deforested. A 2009 estimate suggested a current population size of only 1000-1600 individuals.

Cultural References

The Polynesian imperial pigeon is featured in a folktale from Tupua'i, French Polynesia, in which it plays the role of a midwife for a sister who others refused to help in childbirth. In some versions of the story, it avenges its sister by casting all of the people of the island into the ocean.