Purple-Tailed Imperial Pigeon   Ducula rufigaster

Found primarily in the forests and lowlands of W. Papuan
Islands and New Guinea

Frugivore

414-582g; 33-39 cm

Not globally threatened, not listed on CITES

Captive notes:

  These large fruit pigeons are housed in pairs in our planted mixed-species aviaries.  
They are very calm and non-aggressive.  They spend most of their time in the mid-level
range of the aviary in the lower tree branches.  They are frugivores and are partial to the
soaked raisins; however, they regularly come to the ground to feed in the grain mixture,
eating the shelled spanish peanuts. They use a different nest site with each clutch,
preferring baskets that they can completely hide in while still able to look over the edge.  
They lay 1 egg.  An interesting note: when the egg hatches, the parent birds carry the
eggshell and leave it far from the nest site.

photo credit:  Shelly O'Brien