FeatherScan logo
FeatherScan
Overview
Red-naped fruit dove

Red-naped fruit dove

Wikipedia

The red-naped fruit dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to Sumba.

Loading map...

Distribution

Region

Lesser Sunda Islands (Wallacea)

Typical Environment

Occurs only on Sumba, primarily in intact lowland and hill forests with abundant fruiting trees. It favors the mid- to upper canopy but will use forest edges, gaps, and older secondary growth when fruit is available. Plantations and village groves are visited occasionally if large fruiting figs are present. Its presence closely tracks seasonal fruiting, especially of native figs and laurels.

Altitude Range

200–1200 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size23–27 cm
Wing Span35–42 cm
Male Weight0.17 kg
Female Weight0.16 kg
Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

This striking fruit-dove is confined to the island of Sumba in Indonesia and plays an important role in forest regeneration by dispersing seeds. Males show a vivid crimson patch on the nape that gives the species its name. It is generally shy and canopy-dwelling, making it easy to overlook despite its colors. Habitat loss on Sumba poses the main threat to its long-term survival.

Gallery

Bird photo
Bird photo
An illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans

An illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and secretive

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with swift, direct dashes between fruiting trees

Social Behavior

Usually encountered singly or in pairs, occasionally in small loose groups at heavily fruiting trees. Courtship involves soft cooing and bowing displays by the male. The nest is a simple, flimsy platform placed well above ground, typically holding a single egg. Both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Soft, low-pitched coos and hoots, often delivered from concealed canopy perches. Phrases are simple and repeated with measured pauses, carrying modestly through dense foliage.

Similar Bird Species

Red-naped ibis
Resident

Red-naped ibis

The red-naped ibis also known as the Indian black ibis or black ibis is a species of ibis found in the plains, agriculture fields and cities of the Indian Subcontinent. Unlike other ibises in the region it is not found very often in waterbodies and is often found in dry fields, but are attracted more to areas that have more wetlands. It is usually seen in pairs or loose groups and can be identified by the nearly all dark body with a white patch on the shoulder and a bare dark head with a patch of crimson red warty skin on the crown and nape. It has a loud call and is noisy when breeding. It builds its nest most often on the top of a large tree or palm, and an increasing number of pairs are building on cell phone towers and electricity pillion towers.

Red-naped sapsucker
Migratory

Red-naped sapsucker

The red-naped sapsucker is a medium-sized North American woodpecker. Long thought to be a subspecies of the yellow-bellied sapsucker, it is now known to be a distinct species.

Red-naped trogon
Resident

Red-naped trogon

The red-naped trogon is a species of bird in the family Trogonidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Red-necked amazon
Endemic

Red-necked amazon

The red-necked amazon, also known as the red-necked parrot, Dominican blue-faced amazon, lesser Dominican amazon, and jaco parrot or jaco, is an amazon parrot endemic to Dominica.

Red-necked aracari
Resident

Red-necked aracari

The red-necked aracari or red-necked araçari is a near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found in Bolivia and Brazil.

Red-necked avocet
Endemic

Red-necked avocet

The red-necked avocet also known as the Australian avocet, cobbler, cobbler's awl, and painted lady, is a wader of the family Recurvirostridae that is endemic to Australia and is fairly common and widespread throughout, except for the north and north east coastal areas of the country. Closely related to the stilts, it shares their fragile slender elegance, however the deep red head and neck distinguish them. It appeared on a 13 cent postage stamp in 1966.