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Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)

Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica) - HBW 4, p. 151

French: Colombine turvert German: Glanzkäfertaube Spanish: Palomita Esmeralda Dorsiverde
Other common names: Green-winged/Green-backed/Green Dove, Lilac-mantled/Long-billed/Little Green/Little Green-winged Pigeon

Taxonomy: Columba indica Linnaeus, 1758, Ambon.
Genus shows affinities to both Australian bronzewings (Phaps and allies) and African spotwinged doves (Turtur). Present species closely related to C. stephani, with which largely allopatric; distributions suggest that present species may be expanding its range at the expense of C. stephani, for example in Moluccas and W Papuan Is. Race chrysochlora may merit treatment as separate species (incorporating longirostris and sandwichensis). Many races described, some based on very minor differences. May include C. norfolciensis, a name long us.. View all taxonomy...

Taxonomy: Columba indica Linnaeus, 1758, Ambon.
Genus shows affinities to both Australian bronzewings (Phaps and allies) and African spotwinged doves (Turtur). Present species closely related to C. stephani, with which largely allopatric; distributions suggest that present species may be expanding its range at the expense of C. stephani, for example in Moluccas and W Papuan Is. Race chrysochlora may merit treatment as separate species (incorporating longirostris and sandwichensis). Many races described, some based on very minor differences. May include C. norfolciensis, a name long used for Columba leucomela but now known to refer to a species of Chalcophaps that formerly occurred on Norfolk I. Nine subspecies tentatively recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • indica (Linnaeus, 1758) - Indian Subcontinent (S from Himalayan foothills), S China (SE Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Hainan), Taiwan and S Ryukyu Is, S through SE Asia and Philippines to Greater and Lesser Sundas (E to Alor), Sulawesi, Moluccas and W Papuan Is.
  • robinsoni Stuart Baker, 1928 - Sri Lanka.
  • natalis Lister, 1889 - Christmas I (Indian Ocean).

     See all 9 subspecies
  • indica (Linnaeus, 1758) - Indian Subcontinent (S from Himalayan foothills), S China (SE Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Hainan), Taiwan and S Ryukyu Is, S through SE Asia and Philippines to Greater and Lesser Sundas (E to Alor), Sulawesi, Moluccas and W Papuan Is.
  • robinsoni Stuart Baker, 1928 - Sri Lanka.
  • natalis Lister, 1889 - Christmas I (Indian Ocean).
  • minima Hartert, 1931 - Numfoor, Biak and Mios Num Is in Geelvink Bay, Irian Jaya.
  • maxima Hartert, 1931 - Andaman Is.
  • augusta Bonaparte, 1855 - Nicobar Is.
  • chrysochlora (Wagler, 1827) - E Lesser Sundas, from Wetar and Timor E to Tanimbar Is and N to Banda and Kai Is (E Moluccas), and New Guinea E from Astrolabe Bay in N and Hall Sound in S to D'Entrecasteaux and Trobriand Is and Louisiade Archipelago, then on to E ­Australia (S to Victoria, and ranging to SW Australia); also Lord Howe I and Norfolk I, where perhaps introduced.
  • longirostris Gould, 1848 - N Australia, in N Western Australia (Kimberley region) and Northern Territory.
  • sandwichensis E. P. Ramsay, 1878 - Santa Cruz Is, Banks Is and Vanuatu, and New Caledonia.

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