Many-colored Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus perousii Scientific name definitions

22–23 cm; 85–93 g. Pale yellowish white above, with crimson band across upper back; forehead and crown crimson; prominent breast patch with purplish pink spots; undertail-coverts crimson. Female very different, and more typical of members of P.purpuratus species-group; head and neck grey-green, with crimson cap; wings dark green; breast patch with green speckling above a faint pinkish band; undertail-coverts crimson. Juvenile similar to female, but with yellow fringes to most contour feathers and yellowish belly; youngest juveniles lack the colourful cap, which appears before young males moult into adult male plumage. Race mariae differs in being rather whiter; female has yellow undertail-­coverts.

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A bird of the forest canopy , feeding and perching in the crowns of tall trees; usually found in mature forest, but may enter villages to feed in fruiting banyans; in Fiji, occurs on some small islands with only scrub forest habitat. Mostly in lowlands, but up to 700 m.

Probably travels widely in search of favoured food; in American Samoa, birds appeared in large banyans as soon as the fruit was ripe, only to disappear from the area again when the crop was exhausted. Flight swift and direct, usually well above the canopy.

Completely frugivorous; in Tutuila, American Samoa, feeds almost exclusively on two species of banyans, Ficus prolixa and F. obliqua (Moraceae); also takes Cananga (Annonaceae), Bischofia (Euphorbiaceae), Dysoxylum (Meliaceae) and Santalum (Santalaceae). Often gathers in small flocks to feed in the crowns of large banyans; an active species when feeding, hopping vigorously through the canopy; aggressive interactions are frequent in these flocks, especially between males.

Two main vocalizations. A rhythmic cooing phrase lasting c. 6 seconds starts with 4 –5 drawn-out slightly modulated cooing notes and ends in a bubbling series of c. 10 notes that accelerate and trail off towards the end, “rhuwOo.... rhuwOo..rhuwOo.rhwoo.woo-hu-hu-huhuhuhuhu”. The other vocalisation is a short phrase repeated continuously without pause “rhwoo...rwhoo..wuh..rhwoo..rwhoo..wuh...”.

Limited data suggest nesting may occur all year round. Nest is a fragile platform of twigs , often fairly high above the ground and placed in small terminal branches or on the fork of a branch. Lays 1–2 pure white eggs; both sexes incubate and brood in turn.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Generally uncommon and local even in undisturbed areas, although its apparently nomadic habits make assessment of numbers difficult. Rare and local in Samoa, where it may be threatened by the loss of banyan trees following severe cyclones in 1990 and 1991, as well as by clearing of native forests. The species' tendency to congregate in fruiting banyans increases its vulnerability to hunting, which is a significant threat. Still present on all three large islands but much less common than the Crimson-crowned Fruit-dove, with which it often feeds (2 Tarburton, M. K. (2001). Observations on the status of the land birds, wading birds and seabirds of Samoa. Emu 101(4):349–360. Close ).