Christmas imperial-pigeon

Ducula whartoni

Photo by Jeff Blincow (Christmas Island Wildlife)

Common name:

Christmas imperial-pigeon (en); pombo-imperial-de-Natal (pt); carpophage de Wharton (fr); dúcula de la Navidad (es); weihnachtsfruchttaube (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Columbiformes

Family Columbidae

Range:

This species is endemic to Christmas island, in the Indian Ocean.

Size:

These birds are 39-45 cm long and weigh 450-700 g.

Habitat:

The Christmas imperial-pigeon is mostly found in rainforests and, to some extent, in secondary regrowth dominated by the introduced Japanese cherry Muntingia calabura.

Diet:

They feed on on native and exotic fruits, as well as buds and leaves.

Breeding:

Christmas imperial-pigeons breed in August-February. They nest in a loose platform made of twigs, placed near the top of a tall rainforest tree. The female lays 1 egg which is incubated by both parents for 25-30 days. The chicks fledge 3-4 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)

This species has a very large breeding range and a global population of 10.000-20.000 individuals. Although there is no reliable data on population trend, the species adapts well to secondary habitats and is thus now suspected to have a relatively stable population. The Christmas imperial-pigeon is mostly threatened by forest clearing for phosphate mining. Hunting was also a problem in the past, but is now believed to be less prevalent. The introduction of the yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes to Christmas island could also have a negative impact as these ants can prey on young birds, and have further negative consequences for the overall ecological balance of the island.