The island imperial pigeon or floury imperial pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands archipelago, living in primary and secondary forests and mangroves. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a least-concern species.
Region
Melanesia
Typical Environment
Occurs across the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands, inhabiting primary and secondary lowland forests, forest edges, and mangroves. It favors the canopy and subcanopy, where it searches for fruiting trees, especially figs and palms. The species readily uses small offshore islets and crosses water gaps to exploit seasonal fruit resources. It also visits village gardens and plantations when native fruits are scarce.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Also called the floury imperial pigeon, it gets its name from a pale, powdery bloom on the plumage that can look dusted with flour. A canopy-dwelling frugivore, it is an important seed disperser for island forests. It often roosts communally in coastal trees and mangroves and may fly between islands to reach fruiting trees. Local hunting occurs in parts of its range, but overall it remains common.
On New Britain
Temperament
social and wary near settlements
Flight Pattern
strong flier with direct, powerful wingbeats
Social Behavior
Often seen in pairs or small groups at fruiting trees and may form larger flocks at roost sites. Builds a simple stick platform high in the canopy, typically laying a single egg. Both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties. Communal roosting is common in mangroves or coastal trees.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives deep, resonant coos that carry over long distances, often a repeated ‘oom… oom-oom’ sequence. Vocal activity peaks at dawn and dusk and can be heard from within dense canopy.
