The green imperial pigeon is a large forest pigeon. The large range extends from Nepal, southern India and Sri Lanka eastwards to southern China, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Region
South and Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs from the Himalayan foothills of Nepal through much of India and Sri Lanka, east to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina, southern China, and widely across the Malay Archipelago to Indonesia and the Philippines. It inhabits lowland and hill evergreen forest, coastal and riverine forests, mangroves, and wooded plantations and gardens. The species favors large fruiting trees and can cross stretches of water to reach offshore islands. It adapts to secondary growth where tall fruiting trees persist, but is less common in heavily degraded habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The green imperial pigeon is a large canopy-dwelling fruit specialist and an important seed disperser for many tropical trees, especially figs. It often commutes long distances between feeding and roosting sites and may gather in sizable groups at fruiting trees. Its glossy green upperparts can look bronze or emerald depending on the light, aiding camouflage among leaves.
Feeding at the San Diego Zoo, USA
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
strong flier with deep, direct wingbeats; swift canopy-to-canopy flights
Social Behavior
Often seen singly, in pairs, or in small to medium flocks, especially at fruiting trees and communal roosts. Monogamous pairs build a flimsy stick platform high in the canopy. Typically lays a single white egg; both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
A deep, resonant series of booming coos, often rendered as whoom-whoom or hooo-oom, carrying far through forest. Calls are most frequent at dawn and dusk and during display flights.
