Stephan's emerald dove, also known as Stephan's dove, is a species of bird in the family Columbidae.
Region
Melanesia (New Guinea to the Solomon Islands)
Typical Environment
This species inhabits lowland and hill rainforests on New Guinea and many surrounding island groups, extending east to the Solomon Islands. It favors dense primary and mature secondary forest, forest edges, and overgrown clearings. Birds are most often encountered on the shaded forest floor, along trails, and in quiet gullies. It occasionally ventures into mangrove margins and coastal thickets where cover is ample.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Stephan's emerald dove is a shy forest pigeon often seen walking quietly on the leaf-litter and bursting into rapid flight when disturbed. Its wings flash a brilliant emerald-green, which contrasts with its vinous-brown body and grayish crown. It is more often heard as a soft, mournful coo than seen, and typically occurs singly or in pairs.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, swift dashes; audible wing-claps on takeoff
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, foraging quietly on the forest floor. Nests are small twig platforms placed on horizontal branches or in dense foliage. Typical clutch is 1–2 white eggs, with both sexes sharing incubation and chick rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, mellow, repeated coo that carries through dense forest, delivered at a measured pace. Also gives quiet grunts and wing-claps when flushed.
Plumage
Compact dove with gleaming emerald-green upperwing coverts, bronzy-green mantle, and vinous-brown head and underparts. Crown and nape are grayish, wings and back show a metallic sheen, and flight feathers are dark. Undertail and tail are dusky with subtle banding.
Diet
Feeds mainly on fallen fruits and small berries, including figs, drupes, and other soft forest fruits. Also takes seeds and occasionally tender shoots. Foraging is mostly on the ground, picking items from leaf-litter and low vegetation.
Preferred Environment
Dense, shaded forest floor, often along paths, stream edges, and beneath fruiting trees. Will use secondary growth and edges where fruiting shrubs and trees are abundant.
