The superb fruit dove, also known as the purple-crowned fruit dove, is a medium-sized, colourful fruit-dove in the family Columbidae.
Region
Australasia
Typical Environment
Occurs from eastern Indonesia (including the Moluccas) through New Guinea and adjacent islands to northeastern Australia (primarily coastal and subcoastal Queensland). Favors primary and secondary lowland and foothill rainforests, monsoon forests, and dense gallery forest along rivers. It also visits forest edges, fruiting trees in wooded gardens, and occasionally plantations when figs and other fruits are abundant. The species is generally sedentary but makes local movements tracking fruiting events.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The superb fruit dove, also called the purple-crowned fruit dove, is a small, vividly colored pigeon of Australasian rainforests. Males are striking with a purple crown and orange nape collar, while females are mostly green and well camouflaged. It is an important seed disperser for many rainforest trees, especially figs. Typically quiet and canopy-dwelling, it is more often detected by its soft, rhythmic coos than by sight.
Male at Iron Range NP, Queensland.
Female at Taronga Zoo, Australia
Male at Burgers' Zoo, Netherlands
Temperament
shy and canopy-dwelling
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between trees
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, but small groups form at heavily fruiting trees. Builds a flimsy twig platform nest placed high in dense foliage; clutch is typically a single egg. Both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives a series of soft, rhythmic coos and hoo notes that carry through dense foliage. The song is low-pitched, mellow, and repetitive, often delivered from a concealed perch. Calls may intensify around dawn when birds are most active.
Plumage
Male shows a purple crown, orange nape collar, grey head and upper breast, bright white lower breast with a bold orange band, and green wings with fine darker mottling; a dark purplish central belly patch contrasts with white underparts. Female is predominantly leaf-green with paler underparts and subtle scalloping, lacking the male’s crown and collar. Both sexes have short, neat plumage with a smooth, glossy sheen typical of fruit-doves.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small to medium fruits, especially figs (Ficus), as well as laurels, palms, and other rainforest drupes and berries. Often swallows fruits whole and later disperses seeds across the forest. Will track fruiting events and concentrate where crops are abundant, playing a key role in rainforest regeneration.
Preferred Environment
Forages mostly in the mid to upper canopy of rainforests and along fruiting forest edges. It occasionally visits orchards and gardens with native fruiting trees. Rarely feeds on the ground.
