Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-banded Fruit Dove
Ptilinopus alligator
Black-banded Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus alligator) — Pigeons & Doves of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-banded Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus alligator) is a member of the Columbidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 243 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Columbiformes
- Family Columbidae Pigeons, Doves
- Genus Ptilinopus
- Species alligator
Where it lives
Arnhem Land escarpment, central Top End, north-central NT (north-central Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 243 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-banded Fruit Dove is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-banded Fruit Dove is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-banded Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus alligator) is a member of the Columbidae family, within the order Columbiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Arnhem Land escarpment, c Top End, nc NT (nc Australia).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 243 g, with a wing length of about 18.7 cm and a tail of around 13.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 38,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-banded Fruit Dove?
The Black-banded Fruit Dove is a large bird that weighs around 243 g.
Where does the Black-banded Fruit Dove live?
The Black-banded Fruit Dove is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Arnhem Land escarpment, c Top End, nc NT (nc Australia), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-banded Fruit Dove belong to?
The Black-banded Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus alligator) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Black-banded Fruit Dove eat?
The Black-banded Fruit Dove is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Black-banded Fruit Dove migrate?
The Black-banded Fruit Dove is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-banded Fruit Dove endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Black-banded Fruit Dove's range?
The Black-banded Fruit Dove has a mapped global range of about 38,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Columbidae
A field guide to the Columbidae family — 352 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.