Goliath imperial pigeon

The goliath imperial pigeon(Ducula goliath), also known as the New Caledonian
Goliath imperial pigeon
imperial pigeon[2] and the notou,[3] is a species of bird in the family Columbidae.
It is endemic to New Caledonia. Its natural habitat is humid forests. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a near-
threatened species.

Contents
1 Taxonomy
2 Description
3 Distribution and habitat
4 Behaviour
5 Status
6 References
Conservation status

Taxonomy
This species was described as Carpophaga (Phnorhina) goliath by George Robert Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1 )[1]
Gray in 1859.[4] It is a monotypic species.[2]
Scientific classification

Description Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata
The goliath imperial pigeon is about 51 cm (20 in) long,[5] making it one of the
largest species of arboreal pigeon.[2] It is a slender bird with a long tail, weighing Class: Aves
600716 g (21.225.3 oz). The head and neck are blue-grey. The upperparts and
Order: Columbiformes
wings are sooty-grey, with a grey panel on the primaries' bases. The tail is black and
has a dark chestnut band. The neck and upper breast have bifurcated feathers, so Family: Columbidae
they appear shaggy or furrowed. The lower breast is sooty-grey, the belly and flanks Genus: Ducula
are purplish-chestnut, and the vent is buffy-yellow. The eye is bright red, and the
Species: D. goliath
beak and feet are pinkish or vinous-red. The juvenile bird has a duller plumage, with
no bifurcations.[2] Binomial name
Ducula goliath
Distribution and habitat (Gray, 1859)

This pigeon is endemic to New Caledonia, on Grande Terre and the Isle of Pines.[5]
Its habitat is mostly humidprimary forest,[2] up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in elevation.[1]

Behaviour
The goliath imperial pigeon is found singly or in pairs. It feeds on fruits, leaves and flowers, and it moves locally to eat fruits. Early
in the morning, it warms itself on a branch. Its call is a low oom, and it also gives a gkrarr at dusk. It breeds from June to December.
The nest, 3040 cm (1216 in) in diameter, is woven from twigs and built on a branch. One white egg is laid and incubated by both
parents.[2]

Status
This species's population size is estimated at about 10,000 birds. It is hunted as game both legally and illegally.[1] Traditionally, it is
hunted for feasts from late February to early May.[3] The IUCN considers the species to be safe at present, but it may decline in the
future because of hunting, especially if hunting laws and the hunting season are changed. The IUCN has assessed it as a near-
threatened species.[1]

References
1. BirdLife International (2016). "Ducula goliath" (http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/summary/22691754/0). IUCN Red
List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2016: e.T22691754A93323858.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-
3.RLTS.T22691754A93323858.en(https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2016-3.RL TS.T22691754A93323858.en).
Retrieved 4 September 2017.
2. Gibbs, David; Barnes, Eustace; Cox, John (2010).Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the
World (https://books.google.com/books?id=r__Tx8QKQfMC&pg=P A557). A&C Black. pp. 557558.
ISBN 9781408135563.
3. Barr, Nicolas; Wichatitsky, Michel de Garine; Lecoq, Ronan; Maillard, Jean-Charles (2003)."Contributions to the
knowledge of the New Caledonian imperial pigeonDucula goliath (Gray 1859) with emphasis on sexual dimorphism"
(https://notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_50_3_155.pdf)(PDF). Notornis. 50: 155160.
4. Gray, George Robert (1859)."List of New Caledonian Birds"(http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32274575).
Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London
. part 27: 165.
5. Dutson, Guy (2011). Birds of Melanesia: Bismarcks, Solomons, V
anuatu and New Caledonia(https://books.google.c
om/books?id=VgLVBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA319). Bloomsbury. p. 319. ISBN 9781408152461.

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