Details
PEALE’S IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula latrans) – The Barking Pigeon Ducula latrans is Fiji’s sole endemic and most conspicuous pigeon. It is conspicuous not just because of its large size – Ducula pigeons are often called Imperial Pigeons because of this, but also because of its loud barking call. Easily mistaken for a dog.
The Barking Pigeon has a ponderous but powerful flight and frequently perches conspicuously on bare branches. It specialises in feeding on large, hard fruits such as those of the palm Veitchia joannis, and some large nutmegs Myristica spp. Barking pigeons swallow the fruit whole and the flesh (mace in the nutmeg) is removed in the gizzard before the ‘stone’ is regurgitated. To accomplish this, the gizzard of the Barking Pigeon is specially adapted with hard, horn-like projections which grind off the flesh. In regurgitating viable seeds, the Barking Pigeon plays a very important role in the forest ecosystem by assisting in the dispersal of forest trees.
Fact Card
COMMON NAME: PEALE’S IMPERIAL-PIGEON
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ducula latrans
TYPE: Breeder
DIET: Hard fruits
RECORDED SIGHTINGS: Viti Levu – Vanua Levu – Taveuni – Kadavu – Lomaiviti – Lau
GROUP NAME: KINGDOM – Animalia / PHYLUM – Chordata / CLASS – Aves
ORDER – Columbiformes / FAMILY – Columbidae / GENUS – Ducula
Video: Peale’s Imperial Pigeon
Audio: Peale’s Imperial Pigeon
IUCN Red List Status
Additional Photographs
References
- [Josep del Hoyo]. (2012, August 22). Peale’s Imperial-Pigeon Ducula latrans [Audio]. Macaulay Library. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/203908471
- [Josep del Hoyo]. (2012, August 29). Peale’s Imperial-Pigeon Ducula latrans [Video]. Macaulay Library. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/201436901
- ICUN (2016, August 1). Barking Imperial-pigeon. ICUN Red List. Retrieved September 11, 2023, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22691739/93323067
- Barking imperial pigeon. (2023, August 11). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barking_imperial_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
