The elegant imperial pigeon, also known as blue-tailed imperial-pigeon, is a large pigeon, with upperparts mainly dark blue-green in colour with an iridescent sheen. Head, neck and underparts are mostly pale grey, with red-brown undertail coverts.
Region
Wallacea, Indonesia
Typical Environment
Occurs on numerous small islands and coastal areas in the Maluku and Lesser Sunda (Nusa Tenggara) regions, with a strong affinity for lowland habitats. It frequents primary and secondary forests, mangroves, coastal woodland, and wooded plantations. The species often uses small offshore islets for roosting and breeding, commuting to larger islands to feed. It adapts to forest edges and fruit-rich gardens but generally avoids heavily urbanized zones.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Also called the blue-tailed imperial-pigeon, it is an Indonesian island specialist that often commutes over water between small islets to reach fruiting trees. Like many imperial pigeons, it is an important seed disperser for tropical forest trees, especially figs. It can be shy and stays high in the canopy, where its deep booming calls often reveal its presence before the bird is seen.
Temperament
wary and unobtrusive
Flight Pattern
strong flier with swift, direct flights often between islands
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in small groups, especially at fruiting trees. Roosts communally on small islets or in quiet coastal woodlands. Nests are flimsy platforms placed high in trees, typically with a single white egg and shared incubation by both parents.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Voice is a series of deep, resonant booming coos that carry far through forest and over water. Notes are spaced and muffled, often delivered from concealed perches. Calls are most frequent at dawn and dusk.
Plumage
Upperparts dark blue-green with an iridescent sheen; head, neck, and underparts pale grey with rich chestnut to rufous undertail coverts. Tail appears bluish to slate with darker subterminal shading, and flight feathers are dark. The overall look is smooth and glossy with a neat, clean contrast between the pale foreparts and dark metallic upperparts.
Diet
Primarily consumes fruits, especially figs (Ficus), drupes, and other soft, lipid-rich berries. Swallows small fruits whole and passes seeds intact, aiding long-distance seed dispersal between islands. Occasionally takes buds and young shoots when fruit is scarce. Feeds methodically in the canopy, moving between fruiting trees across a broad area.
Preferred Environment
Forages high in the canopy of lowland forest, mangroves, and coastal woodland. Also visits forest edges, wooded plantations, and fruiting trees in rural gardens. Will cross narrow sea channels to exploit isolated fruiting trees on nearby islets.
