Details
METALLIC PIGEON (Columba vitiensis) – The White-throated Pigeon Columba vitiensis is an attractive dark pigeon with a bright iridescent sheen in certain lights. In Fiji, it is common on the larger and many of the intermediate-sized islands but is the least conspicuous of the native pigeons. It is commonly called the Chilli Pigeon because of its fondness for feeding on chillies. Here it often encounters real problems, as chilli bushes are small and cannot usually bear the weight of hefty pigeons. In the mornings, White-throated Pigeons may be commonly seen on roads or tracks taking grit. Unlike the Ducula pigeons, Columba pigeons have a gizzard in which they store grit to help them grind down their food. The latter consists of small fruit, seeds and young shoots.
Fact Card
COMMON NAME: Metallic Pigeon
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Columba vitiensis
TYPE: Breeder
DIET: Small fruit, seeds and young shoots
SIZE: 37 Length
RECORDED SIGHTINGS: Viti Levu – Vanua Levu – Taveuni – Kadavu – Lomaiviti – Lau
GROUP NAME: KINGDOM – Animalia / PHYLUM – Chordata / CLASS – Aves
ORDER – Columbiformes / FAMILY – Columbidae / GENUS – Columba
Video: Metallic Pigeon
Audio: Metallic Pigeon
IUCN Red List Status
Additional Photographs
References
- ICUN (2016, August 1). Metallic Pigeon. ICUN. Retrieved September 8, 2023, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22690211/93265338
- [Joseph Kelly]. (2016, July 18). Metallic Pigeon Columba vitiensis [Audio]. Macaulay Library. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/203893171
- [Josep del Hoyo]. (2012, August 21). Metallic Pigeon (Metallic) Columba vitiensis [vitiensis Group] [Video]. Macaulay Library. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/201430201
- Metallic pigeon. (2023, August 11). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallic_pigeon
Additional Sources of Information
- NatureFiji-MareqetiViti is Fiji’s only domestic NGO working solely for the conservation and sustainable management of Fiji’s unique natural heritage – https://naturefiji.org/
Author: Fiji Journal
Established 2018
