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The Nicobar Pigeon

Caloenas nicobarica

Photo by MUSE
Published on Project Noah
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25.7596, -80.2443

Field Notes

Description:

The Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) is a pigeon found on small islands and in coastal regions from the Nicobar Islands, east through the Malay Archipelago, to the Solomons and Palau. It is the only living member of the genus Caloenas.

It is a large pigeon, measuring 40 cm in length. The head is grey, like the upper neck plumage, which turns into green and copper hackles towards the breast. The breast and remiges are dark grey. The tail is very short and pure white. The rest of its plumage is metallic green. The cere of the dark bill forms a small blackish knob; the strong legs and feet are dull red. The irides are dark.[2]
Females are slightly smaller than males; they have a smaller bill knob, shorter hackles and browner underparts. Immature birds have a black tail and lack almost all iridescence. There is hardly any variation across the birds' wide range. Even the Palau subspecies C. n. pelewensis has merely shorter neck hackles, but is otherwise almost identical.[2]
It is not a very vocal species, giving a low-pitched repetitive call.
-Wikipedia

Species ID Suggestions

Nicobar Pigeon

Caloenas nicobarica

Comments (8)

Thank u reidhpierce, good luck next time ..:)
My family and I could have seen one of these on are trip but we didn't mange to see one. Great photo though!
I could not agree more :) Well spoken!
Thanks tiz. Project Noah give us a chance to enjoy each others pic's and comments. I learn so much of this site and the people i "meet"! ... :)
Beautiful and a bit funny looking bird :) Thank you for giving me a reason to appreciate it Muse :)
Thanks Jakubko ... 4 all suggestions :)
This looks like a Nicobar Pigeon, but you might want to verify.
Photographed
PublishedJune 16, 2013

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