Photo: Mike Prince / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pale-capped Pigeon
Columba punicea
Pale-capped Pigeon (Columba punicea) — Pigeons & Doves of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pale-capped Pigeon (Columba punicea) is a member of the Columbidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 434 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 Columba
- Species punicea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 434 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pale-capped Pigeon is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Pale-capped Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Pale-capped Pigeon (Columba punicea) belongs to the Columbidae family of the order Columbiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR ne India through se Asia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 434 g, with a wing length of about 22 cm and a tail of around 14.1 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 190,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pale-capped Pigeon?
The Pale-capped Pigeon is a large bird that weighs around 434 g.
Where does the Pale-capped Pigeon live?
The Pale-capped Pigeon is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR ne India through se Asia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Pale-capped Pigeon belong to?
The Pale-capped Pigeon (Columba punicea) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Pale-capped Pigeon eat?
The Pale-capped Pigeon is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Pale-capped Pigeon migrate?
The Pale-capped Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Pale-capped 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 Pale-capped Pigeon make?
1 real field recording of the Pale-capped 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 Pale-capped Pigeon's range?
The Pale-capped Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 190,000 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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Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Extinct in the Wild
More in Pigeons & Doves
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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.