Rufescent Imperial Pigeon
Ducula chalconota
Rufescent Imperial Pigeon (Ducula chalconota) — Pigeons & Doves of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufescent Imperial Pigeon (Ducula chalconota) is a member of the Columbidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 502 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 Ducula
- Species chalconota
Quick facts
- Weight
- 502 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufescent Imperial Pigeon 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 Rufescent Imperial Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufescent Imperial Pigeon (Ducula chalconota) is a member of the Columbidae family, within the order Columbiformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU New Guinea.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 502 g, with a wing length of about 21.2 cm and a tail of around 14.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 165,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufescent Imperial Pigeon?
The Rufescent Imperial Pigeon is a large bird that weighs around 502 g.
Where does the Rufescent Imperial Pigeon live?
The Rufescent Imperial Pigeon is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU New Guinea, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufescent Imperial Pigeon belong to?
The Rufescent Imperial Pigeon (Ducula chalconota) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Rufescent Imperial Pigeon eat?
The Rufescent Imperial Pigeon is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Rufescent Imperial Pigeon migrate?
The Rufescent Imperial Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufescent Imperial Pigeon endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rufescent Imperial Pigeon make?
1 real field recording of the Rufescent Imperial Pigeon — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufescent Imperial Pigeon's range?
The Rufescent Imperial Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 165,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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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.