Common emerald dove: Difference between revisions

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The '''Emerald Dove''' (''Chalcophaps indica'') is a [[Dove|pigeon]] which is a widespread resident breeding bird in tropical southern [[Asia]] from [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]] east to [[Indonesia]] and northern and eastern [[Australia]]. The dove is also known by the names of Green Dove and Green-winged pigeon. It has a number of [[subspecies]], with two existing in Australia, being the ''longirostris'' (from [[Kimberley_region_of_Western_Australia|Kimberly]], [[Western Australia]] to [[Cape York Peninsula]]) and ''chrysochlora'' (from [[Cape York Peninsula]] to southern [[New South Wales]] as well as [[Norfolk Island]] and [[Lord Howe Island]]).

This is a common species in [[rainforest]] and similar dense wet woodlands[[woodland]]s, farms[[farm]]s, gardens[[garden]]s, mangroves[[mangrove]]s and coastal[[coast]]al heaths[[heath]]s. It builds a scant stick [[nest]] in a [[tree]] up to five metres[[metre]]s and lays two cream-coloured [[Egg (biology)|egg]]s. Breeding tends to occur in Australia [[spring]] or early [[summer]] in southeastern Australia and late in the [[dry season]] in northern Australia.

Its flight is fast and direct, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the [[wing]]s which are characteristic of pigeons in general. It often flies low between the patches of dense forest it prefers, but when disturbed will frequently walk away rather than [[flight|fly]]. They are particularly good weavers when flying through forests[[forest]]s. When flying they expose a buff underwing and a chestnut colour of their flight [[feather]]s.

In populated parts of the [[Western Ghats]] in India, their fast rapid flight causes them to fall victim to window-hits. They fly fast into glass windows that appear to them like clearings in the forest and in almost all cases they are killed. In [[Kerala]] this behaviour has led to their local name which means ''stupid dove''.

Emerald Dove is a stocky, medium-sized pigeon, typically 23 to 28 centimetres[[centimetre]]s (10 to 11.2 [[inch]]es) in length. The back and wings are bright emerald green. The flight [[feather]]s and tail are blackish, and broad black and white bars show on the lower back in flight. The head and underparts are dark vinous pink (in ''chrysochlora'', more brown in ''longirostris''), fading to greyish on the lower belly. The eyes are dark brown, the bill bright red and legs and feet rufous.

The male has a white patch on the edge of the shoulders and a grey crown, which the female lacks. Females will tend to have a browner complexion with a grey mark on the shoulder. Immature birds resemble females but have brown scallops on their body and wing plumage.

Emerald doves usually occur singly, pairs or in small groups. They are quite terrestrial, often searching for fallen [[fruit]] on the ground and spending little time in trees except when roosting. They eat seeds[[seed]]s and [[fruit]]s of a wide variety of plants[[plant]]s and are generally tame and approachable.

The call is a low soft moaning cooing consisting of about six to seven coos starting quietly and rising. They also call a nasal "hoo-hoo-hoon". Males perform a bobbing dance during [[courtship]].

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* Trounsen and Trounsen, "Australian Birds: A Concise Photographic Field Guide, Cameron House. ISBN 1875999477.

[[Categories: Birds of Australia]]

[[Category:Chalcophaps]]