Goliath Imperial Pigeon
Ducula goliath
The Goliath Imperial Pigeon (Ducula goliath) is a rare doves and pigeon found only in New Caledonia, weighing about 600 g. The goliath imperial pigeon, also known as the New Caledonian imperial pigeon and the notou, is a species of bird in the family Columbidae.
About the Goliath Imperial Pigeon
The goliath imperial pigeon, also known as the New Caledonian imperial pigeon and the notou, is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to New Caledonia. Its natural habitat is humid forests. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a near-threatened species.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The goliath imperial pigeon is about 51 cm (20 in) long, making it one of the largest species of arboreal pigeon. It is a slender bird with a long tail, weighing 600–716 g (21.2–25.3 oz). The head and neck are blue-grey. The upperparts and wings are sooty-grey, with a grey panel on the primaries' bases. The tail is black and has a dark chestnut band. The neck and upper breast have bifurcated feathers, so they appear shaggy or furrowed. The lower breast is sooty-grey, the belly and flanks are purplish-chestnut, and the vent is buffy-yellow.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, March, April, May, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Goliath Imperial Pigeon?
- The goliath imperial pigeon is about 51 cm (20 in) long, making it one of the largest species of arboreal pigeon. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Goliath Imperial Pigeon?
- The Goliath Imperial Pigeon is a large sized bird weighing about 600 g.
- Where can you see a Goliath Imperial Pigeon?
- The Goliath Imperial Pigeon is endemic to New Caledonia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Goliath Imperial Pigeon?
- The Goliath Imperial Pigeon is most easily confused with the Cinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon, the Collared Imperial Pigeon and the Elegant Imperial Pigeon.
- Is the Goliath Imperial Pigeon endangered?
- The Goliath Imperial Pigeon is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Goliath Imperial Pigeon for real
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