Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)
Torresian Imperial-pigeon (Ducula spilorrhoa) - HBW 4, p. 241
French: Carpophage argenté
German: Kaiserfruchttaube
Spanish: Dúcula Australiana
Other common names: (White) Nutmeg Pigeon, Australian Pied Imperial-pigeon, Torres Strait Pigeon
Taxonomy: Carpophaga spilorrhoa G. R. Gray, 1858, Aru Islands.
Forms a distinctive superspecies with D. bicolor and D. luctuosa; species limits in this group are unclear, and all three sometimes considered conspecific; other authors recognize up to five species; further study required. Race subflavescens sometimes considered a distinct species. Proposed races melvillensis and tarara intergrade with nominate; status of the form constans (Kimberley region of NW Australia) is unclear, and this population provisionally retained in nominate, pending further work. Two subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- subflavescens (Finsch, 1886) - Bismarck Archipelago and Admiralty Is.
- spilorrhoa (G. R. Gray, 1858) - Aru Is through coastal New Guinea (penetrating into interior along some major rivers) and islands in Geelvink Bay to D'Entrecasteaux, Trobriand and Woodlark Is, and Louisiade Archipelago, then S to N & NE Australia (from Kimberley region and NW Northern Territory to N & C Cape York Peninsula, and S down E coast to Aquila I, near Carmila).
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A bird perched in a tree Locality Cairns, Queensland, Australia (ssp spilorrhoa)
Keith Blomerley 1 November 2003 4 years ago 25 sec 3.8 -
adult perched in tree, changes position Locality Palmerston, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia (ssp spilorrhoa)
Martin Kennewell 26 July 2009 2 years ago 31 sec 3.7 -
Several birds perched and looking for food. Locality Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Josep del Hoyo 19 October 2009 1 year ago 32 sec 3.2 -
A bird in a tree looking around Locality Cairns, Queensland, Australia (ssp spilorrhoa)
Peter Nash 19 October 2006 5 years ago 22 sec 3 -
A bird perched at the top of a dead tree Locality New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago (ssp subflavescens)
Keith Blomerley 1 September 2008 3 years ago 25 sec 2.6 -
Several shots of a bird perched. Locality Berlin Zoo, Berlin, Germany
Josep del Hoyo 21 March 2008 3 years ago 33 sec 2.5
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A bird perched on a branch.
Locality Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Josep del Hoyo 19 October 2009 1 year ago 3.5 -
A perched bird.
Locality Kuranda, Queensland, Australia (ssp spilorrhoa)
Fran Trabalon 25 October 2007 50 weeks ago 3.4 -
Pair displaying in ornamental-tree
Locality Cairns Esplenade, Cairns, Queensland, Australia (ssp spilorrhoa)
Tom Tarrant 2 January 2009 3 years ago 3 -
A bird on a branch.
Locality Berlin Zoo, Berlin, Germany
Josep del Hoyo 21 March 2008 3 years ago 2
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An adult claps its bill twice as it forages in a tree Locality Cairns, Queensland, Australia
(ssp spilorrhoa)
Joe Angseesing 2 March 2009 2 years ago 2.5
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