Photo: Ralph Powlesland | Department of Conservation / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chatham Islands Pigeon
Hemiphaga chathamensis
Chatham Islands Pigeon (Hemiphaga chathamensis) — Pigeons & Doves of Australia & Oceania.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chatham Islands Pigeon (Hemiphaga chathamensis) is a member of the Columbidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 789 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Columbiformes
- Family Columbidae Pigeons, Doves
- Genus Hemiphaga
- Species chathamensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 789 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chatham Islands 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 Chatham Islands Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Chatham Islands Pigeon (Hemiphaga chathamensis) is a species of bird in the Columbidae family, part of the order Columbiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Chatham Is. (e of South I., New Zealand).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 789 g, with a wing length of about 27.2 cm and a tail of around 19.6 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 790 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chatham Islands Pigeon?
The Chatham Islands Pigeon is a large bird that weighs around 789 g.
Where does the Chatham Islands Pigeon live?
The Chatham Islands Pigeon is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Chatham Is. (e of South I., New Zealand), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Chatham Islands Pigeon belong to?
The Chatham Islands Pigeon (Hemiphaga chathamensis) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Chatham Islands Pigeon eat?
The Chatham Islands Pigeon is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Chatham Islands Pigeon migrate?
The Chatham Islands Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Chatham Islands Pigeon endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Chatham Islands Pigeon make?
1 real field recording of the Chatham Islands 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 Chatham Islands Pigeon's range?
The Chatham Islands Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 790 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.