The Andaman wood pigeon (Columba palumboides) belongs to the family of doves and pigeons, Columbidae.
These wood pigeon species are endemic to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. These Andaman wood pigeon species inhabit dense broadleaved evergreen forests. These wood pigeons are monotypic species.
Appearance, physical description and identification
The Andaman wood pigeon (Columba palumboides) is a large pigeon, measuring 35 to 40 cm in length and weighing 510 to 520 grams.The head and neck of these birds are silvery gray. The neck color gradually merges with the pale gray of the throat, breast, belly and underwings. The backs, rump, wings and tail are dark blackish gray. There is greenish sheen on the upper dark gray mantle.
The bill is pinkish red with yellowish anterior end. The irises are yellow. The bare skin around the eyes is reddish pink. The feet are reddish pink. The call of these pigeons is a distinctive hooting "whooh" sound.
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| Albinjacob | CC BY-SA 3.0 as on 9/28/18 |
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| Birds of India - Image of Andaman wood pigeon - Columba palumboides |
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| Indian birds - Picture of Andaman wood pigeon - Columba palumboides |
Origin, geographical range and distribution
The Andaman wood pigeon species are endemic to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. The Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) of these species in Nicobar Islands are Car Nicobar, Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar, Tillangchong, Camorta, Katchal, Nancowry and Trinkat.The Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) of these Andaman wood pigeon in Andaman Islands are Mount Diavalo and Cuthbert Bay, Austin Strait, Mount Harriet National Park, Barangtang - Rafters Creek, North and South Sentinel, Chainpur and Hanspuri, Rani Jhansi Marine National Park, Interview Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Saddle Peak National Park, Jarawa Reserve, Kadakachang, Little Andaman and Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park.
Ecosystem and habitat
These Andaman wood pigeon species have high forest dependency. These species occur in altitudes from 0 to 100 meters. They inhabit dense broadleaved evergreen forests and tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests.Diet and feeding behavior
The diet of these wood pigeon species is mostly fruits. Fruits, berries and figs are their primary food. These species are arboreal, seldom descending to the forest floor. They are frugivorous, living on a wide variety of fruits, berries and figs. They fly from one island to another in search of ripe fruits.Reproduction and breeding habits
The breeding season and breeding behavior of these species is not known.Migration and movement patterns
The Andaman wood pigeon is a non-migratory resident bird.Post breeding, the wood pigeon juveniles may disperse and establish in new locations within the range. They may make local movements for feeding and breeding within their range. These birds fly between islands in response to fruiting of figs and other trees.
Andaman wood pigeon - Overview
- Scientific name: Columba palumboides
- Species author: (Hume, 1873)
- Synonyms/Protonym: Carpophaga palumboides A. O. Hume
- Family: Columbidae › Columbiformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
- Vernacular names: English: Andaman wood pigeon, Chinese: 安达曼林鸽, French: Pigeon des Andaman, German: Andamanentaube, Spanish: Paloma de Andamán, Russian: Андаманский голубь, Japanese: アンダマンモリバト
- Other names: Andaman Pigeon
- Distribution: Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India)
- Diet and feeding habits: fruits, berries, figs
- IUCN status listing: Near Threatened (NT)
Conservation and survival
The global population size of the Andaman wood pigeon (Columba palumboides) has not been quantified. The overall population trend of these species is considered to be under decline. Throughout its range it is reported to be uncommon. The generation length is 5.6 years. Their distribution size is about 81,700 sq.km.The Andaman wood pigeon (Columba palumboides) is approaching the thresholds for being Vulnerable, under the range size criterion, under the population trend criterion and also under the population size criterion. Deforestation, forest fragmentation and hunting are the main threats that may endanger the survival of these species.
IUCN and CITES status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated the pigeon species and has listed it as "Near Threatened". CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) status is ‘Not Evaluated’ for the Andaman wood pigeon (Columba palumboides).| Taxonomy and scientific classification of Columba palumboides | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Columbiformes |
| Family: | Columbidae |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Genus: | Columba |
| Species: | C. palumboides |
| Binomial name: | Columba palumboides |
| IUCN status listing: |
 Near Threatened |
1.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Indian_pigeons_and_doves_(Plate_19)_(6197377531).jpg
Image author: Baker, E. C. Stuart | License: Public domain
2.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IanthoenasColumboidesSmit.jpg
Image author: Joseph Smit | License: Public domain
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