The Bonin wood pigeon is an extinct species of pigeon that was endemic to Nakodo-jima and Chichi-jima in the Ogasawara Islands, south of Japan. It is known from four recorded specimens, the first from 1827 and the last from 1889. They averaged a length of 45 cm. This pigeon died out late in the 19th century as a result of deforestation, hunting, and predation by introduced rats and cats.
Region
Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands, northwestern Pacific
Typical Environment
Historically restricted to subtropical evergreen forests and wooded valleys on Chichi-jima and Nakodo-jima. It likely foraged in the canopy and along forest edges where native trees and shrubs fruited seasonally. Sheltered ravines and low ridges would have provided roosting and nesting sites. The species depended on intact, mature forest structure and was highly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 300 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Bonin wood pigeon was an island pigeon endemic to Chichi-jima and Nakodo-jima in Japan’s Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands. It is known from only four collected specimens (1827–1889) and went extinct in the late 19th century due to deforestation, hunting, and predation by introduced rats and cats. At about 45 cm long, it was a relatively large, dark-plumaged wood pigeon adapted to subtropical island forests.
Copy of Kittlitz illustration, ca. 1900
Temperament
solitary and wary
Flight Pattern
swift direct flight with strong wingbeats
Social Behavior
Most often encountered singly or in pairs, similar to other Columba wood pigeons. Likely nested in trees, building a simple twig platform. Clutch size was probably one egg, as is common among large island pigeons.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A low, repetitive series of coos typical of wood pigeons, carrying softly through forest. Calls were likely subdued and infrequent outside of breeding contexts.
