Photo: Joseph Smit / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Imperial Pigeon
Ducula melanochroa
Black Imperial Pigeon (Ducula melanochroa) — Pigeons & Doves of Australia & Oceania.
The Black Imperial Pigeon (Ducula melanochroa) is a member of the Columbidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 665 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 melanochroa
Where it lives
Montane New Ireland, New Britain and satellites (eastern Bismarck Arch.)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 665 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black 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 Black Imperial Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black Imperial Pigeon (Ducula melanochroa) is a member of the Columbidae family, within the order Columbiformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU montane New Ireland, New Britain and satellites (e Bismarck Arch.).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 665 g, with a wing length of about 24.3 cm and a tail of around 15.8 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 36,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Imperial Pigeon?
The Black Imperial Pigeon is a large bird that weighs around 665 g.
Where does the Black Imperial Pigeon live?
The Black Imperial Pigeon is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU montane New Ireland, New Britain and satellites (e Bismarck Arch.), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black Imperial Pigeon belong to?
The Black Imperial Pigeon (Ducula melanochroa) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Black Imperial Pigeon eat?
The Black Imperial Pigeon is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Black Imperial Pigeon migrate?
The Black Imperial Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black 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.
How large is the Black Imperial Pigeon's range?
The Black Imperial Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 36,000 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
More in Columbidae
Not Evaluated
Endangered
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
More in Pigeons & Doves
Least Concern
Least Concern
Extinct
Least Concern
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.