Photo: Lip Kee from Singapore, Republic of Singapore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pied Imperial Pigeon
Ducula bicolor
Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor) — Pigeons & Doves of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor) is a member of the Columbidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 440 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 bicolor
Where it lives
Andaman Is., southeastern Asia, Philippines, Indonesian Arch., Raja Ampat Is. (northwest of New Guinea) and coasts of Bird'southern Head and Neck (northwestern New Guinea)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 440 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pied 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 Pied Imperial Pigeon is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor) belongs to the Columbidae family of the order Columbiformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Andaman Is., se Asia, Philippines, Indonesian Arch., Raja Ampat Is. (nw of New Guinea) and coasts of Bird's Head and Neck (nw New Guinea).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 440 g, with a wing length of about 22.6 cm and a tail of around 12.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 626,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pied Imperial Pigeon?
The Pied Imperial Pigeon is a large bird that weighs around 440 g.
Where does the Pied Imperial Pigeon live?
The Pied Imperial Pigeon is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Andaman Is., se Asia, Philippines, Indonesian Arch., Raja Ampat Is. (nw of New Guinea) and coasts of Bird's Head and Neck (nw New Guinea), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Pied Imperial Pigeon belong to?
The Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Pied Imperial Pigeon eat?
The Pied Imperial Pigeon is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Pied Imperial Pigeon migrate?
The Pied Imperial Pigeon is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Pied 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.
What sound does the Pied Imperial Pigeon make?
1 real field recording of the Pied Imperial 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 Pied Imperial Pigeon's range?
The Pied Imperial Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 626,000 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.