Shining Imperial-pigeon vs Pallid Dove

Ducula chalconota compared with Leptotila pallida

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Shining Imperial-pigeon Pallid Dove
Scientific Name Ducula chalconota Leptotila pallida
Order Columbiformes Columbiformes
Family Columbidae Columbidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 42.4 cm (16.7 in) 27.2 cm (10.7 in)
Weight 553.5 g (19.52 oz) 143.0 g (5.04 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size -- --
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Shining Imperial-pigeon only

None

Pallid Dove only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Shining Imperial-pigeon

Pallid Dove

Song

Soft, gentle cooing with pallid tone; pure notes typical of arid South American open dry rocky terrain.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Shining Imperial-pigeon

Least Concern

Pallid Dove

How to Tell Them Apart

Shining Imperial-pigeon

Pallid Dove

Plumage

Pallid Dove: pale sandy-buff overall; pale gray head; barely visible facial markings; bare red orbital skin; Pacific slope species

About These Birds

Shining Imperial-pigeon

Shining Imperial-pigeon (Ducula chalconota), 38 cm. Richly iridescent bronze-green upperparts with a contrasting pale grey head and underparts. Found in montane forest of New Guinea from 700 to 2,200 m. Frugivore. Least Concern; common in hill and montane forest.

Pallid Dove

Medium dove, 25–28 cm, pale brown above with a very pale grey-white head, giving an overall washed-out, pale appearance. Found in humid lowland Pacific forest from Colombia to Ecuador. Terrestrial forager of fruits and seeds on the forest floor. Least Concern.

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