photo - Beautiful Fruit Dove with full frontal view, feathers are colored, orange, purple, green, breast is all white, with purple patch on front of head, beak is yellow, sitting on branch, with background of green leaves

Dove, Beautiful Fruit

Info

  • Exhibit: Islands
  • Classification: ,
  • Conservation Status: Least concern

CLASSIFICATION
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Ptilinopus
Species: pulchellus

RANGE
Found in New Guinea, on the Batanta, Waigeo, Salawati and Misool Islands. Also found in West Papua in Indonesia.

HABITAT
Tropical rainforest habitats.

SIZE
Length: Apx. 7.5 inches

REPRODUCTION

  • Males will perch next to females during mating season and make themselves appear larger to the potential mate.
  • Nests are built from twigs, where a single egg is laid.
  • Females will incubate the egg for 15-18 days.
  • Young fledge within 2 weeks.

DIET
Wild: Fruits, seeds, palms and vines.

LIFESPAN
Up to 15 years.

BEHAVIOR

There is not much known about the beautiful fruit dove and what little is known is observed from zoos. They are known to prefer fruit but are often displaced by larger species in their native areas and therefore accept a varied diet.

POINTS OF INTEREST

  • Despite being small birds, they can swallow fruit that is almost 1 in. in diameter!
  • Males will extend their bodies and fluff their feathers to impress mates by appearing larger.
  • They are also known as the rose-fronted pigeon and the crimson-capped fruit dove.

STATUS
Despite their seemingly large numbers not much research has been done on their species and further studies would be necessary to accurately assess their population and threats.