Family Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Least Concern
Grey-rumped Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus alligator)
Taxonomy
French: Ptilope de l’Alligator German: Graubauch-Fruchttaube Spanish: Tilopo del Alligator
Other common names:
Black-banded Fruit-dove
Taxonomy:
Ptilopus (Leucotreron) alligator
Collett
, 1898,Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia
.Distribution:
W escarpment of Arnhem Land (N Australia) from headwaters of South Alligator R, then S and W from El Sherana N to Oenpelli. Distribution in virtually inaccessible C & E areas of escarpment unknown.
Descriptive notes
33–35 cm; 200–256 g. Head, neck and upper breast white with cream tinge; mantle and wings black, grading to grey on rump and uppertail-coverts; broad black band... read more
Voice
Advertising call is a series of 6–9 low-pitched coos at a rate of c. 1 note/second.
Habitat
Relict areas of rain forest on sandstone escarpments along western edge of Arnhem Land.
Food and feeding
Feeds on a variety of fruits including figs (Ficus, Moraceae), ebony (Diospyros, Ebenaceae), wild tobacco (Solanum... read more
Breeding
Eggs late May to early Jul and Sept. Builds a loose, open platform of twigs 2·5–4 m up in a shrub or small tree. Clutch 1 egg... read more
Movements
Apparently sedentary, and rarely observed more than 1 km from the escarpment. Flight is strong,... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Currently considered near-threatened. Restricted to a relict habitat within a very small range. No population estimates available, in part due to... read more
Formerly placed in genus Leucotreron; sister-taxon of P. cinctus (which see), and sometimes considered conspecific; also appears to be closely related to P. dohertyi and P. porphyreus. Monotypic.