Photo: Atanu Mondal / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Nilgiri Wood Pigeon
Columba elphinstonii
Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) — Pigeons & Doves of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) is a member of the Columbidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 379 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 Columba
- Species elphinstonii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 379 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 Nilgiri Wood 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 Nilgiri Wood Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) is a species of bird in the Columbidae family, part of the order Columbiformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR sw India.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 379 g, with a wing length of about 20.8 cm and a tail of around 15.2 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 116,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon?
The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon is a large bird that weighs around 379 g.
Where does the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon live?
The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR sw India, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon belong to?
The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon eat?
The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon migrate?
The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Nilgiri Wood 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 Nilgiri Wood Pigeon's range?
The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 116,000 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.