Pacific imperial pigeon

Pacific imperial pigeon
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Genus:	Ducula
Species:	D. pacifica
Binomial name
Ducula pacifica (Gmelin, 1789)

The Pacific imperial pigeon (Ducula pacifica) is a widespread species of pigeon in the family Columbidae. It is found in American Samoa, the Cook Islands, the smaller islands of eastern Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, the smaller satellite islands of Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna Islands.

Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests on smaller islands and tropical moist montane forest on larger islands. Across parts of its range it will travel between islands in order to forage. Individuals may gather to form large flocks in fruiting trees and travel some distances forage. The species is frugiverous, taking a number of different species of fruit, and occasionally leaves and flowers. Pairs nest in high trees, constructing a concealed, unlined untidy nest of twigs. Usually a single egg is laid, with incubation being undertaken by both sexes.

The species has suffered from habitat loss and hunting pressure, and has declined locally in some areas, but it remains common over much of its range, and is listed as least concern by the IUCN. It is most vulnerable in smaller islands. It was hunted in prehistoric times in Tonga and Samoa with elaborate traps on stone platforms, and these hunts were of considerable cultural significance.

In Niue this breed is called a Lupe. It is a delicacy for the locals. It is now protected but people still hunt them. It is unknown where they breed or come from as no evidence of their nests have ever been found in Niue.

References[]

• del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (1996). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-20-2

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