Peale's Imperial-Pigeon Ducula latrans Scientific name definitions

40–41 cm. Upperparts ash grey; back and wings dark brown; underparts pale vinaceous grey, becoming buff on belly ; undertail-coverts dark buff; wing-linings chestnut; bill blackish. Sexes alike. Juvenile similar, but duller, with faint rufous buff fringes to most feathers.

Generally restricted to extensive tracts of mature native forest , from lowlands up to 1000 m; occurs typically on large to medium-sized islands, in contrast to D. pacifica, which is found on the smaller Fijian islands.

Little known, with no movements recorded. A strong flier.

Frugivorous, feeding on a variety of fruits. Favours large fruits (12–25+mm in diameter), including Cananga (Annonaceae), Dysoxylum (Meliaceae) and nutmeg (Myristica, Myristicaceae), which it clumsily snaps off small branches. Usually seen singly or in pairs, but may occur in small groups at fruiting trees.

Commonest call is a variable series of 3–8 short, emphatic, owl-like hoots “whu!..whu!..whu!..whu!”, sometimes preceded by a gruff note (reminiscent of the distant muffled barking of a dog). Also short emphatic scratchy notes.

Breeds May–Jan, although peaks in nesting probably vary locally. Nest is an insubstantial platform of twigs built in the fork of a lateral branch. Lays 1 white egg.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Still fairly common in the interior of Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Rabi, though populations reduced by hunting and habitat loss in more settled areas, especially on Viti Levu; populations require monitoring.