Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Christmas Imperial Pigeon
Ducula whartoni
Christmas Imperial Pigeon (Ducula whartoni) — Pigeons & Doves of South & Southeast Asia.
The Christmas Imperial Pigeon (Ducula whartoni) is a member of the Columbidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 571 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 whartoni
Quick facts
- Weight
- 571 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 Christmas 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 Christmas Imperial Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Christmas Imperial Pigeon (Ducula whartoni) belongs to the Columbidae family of the order Columbiformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Christmas I. (s of w Java).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 571 g, with a wing length of about 25.1 cm and a tail of around 17.1 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 137 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Christmas Imperial Pigeon?
The Christmas Imperial Pigeon is a large bird that weighs around 571 g.
Where does the Christmas Imperial Pigeon live?
The Christmas Imperial Pigeon is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Christmas I. (s of w Java), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Christmas Imperial Pigeon belong to?
The Christmas Imperial Pigeon (Ducula whartoni) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Christmas Imperial Pigeon eat?
The Christmas Imperial Pigeon is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Christmas Imperial Pigeon migrate?
The Christmas Imperial Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Christmas 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 Christmas Imperial Pigeon's range?
The Christmas Imperial Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 137 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.