Collared Imperial-Pigeon Ducula mullerii Scientific name definitions

38–41 cm; 540–650 g. Forehead  , lores and crown greyish pink; lower face , chin and throat  silvery grey; distinctive black collar completely encircles neck, broadest at hindneck; separated from grey-pink crown by narrow silver-grey line; mantle maroon; rest of upperparts dark grey; tail  black with broad pale grey central band  ; underparts dark mauve-pink, becoming maroon along breast sides; incomplete broad white to silvery grey band across upper breast separates black collar from dark pink underparts; vent and undertail-coverts dark reddish chestnut; undertail black with prominent pale central band; iris brown; bill greyish; feet purplish red. Sexes alike. Race aurantia   differs in having paler underparts, brighter but less extensive maroon mantle and paler crown.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Primary rain forest  in the lowlands, especially along rivers; also swamp forest and mangroves. It is usually reported only up to 200m (1 Beehler, B. M., and T. K. Pratt (2016) Birds of New Guinea: distribution, taxonomy, and systematics. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. Close ) but one has been found at 1600m on Mt Wilhelm (2 Marki, P.Z., Sam, K., Koane, B., Kristensen, J.B., Kennedy, J.D. and Jønsson, K.A. (2016). New and noteworthy bird records from the Mt. Wilhelm elevational gradient, Papua New Guinea. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 136(4): 263–271. Close ).

Little information. Like other Ducula, probably undertakes extensive local movements regularly, in response to fruit availability. One bird recorded flying fast and direct to Boigu I, apparently from Papua New Guinea mainland (c. 7 km). Flies strongly above the canopy.

Frugivorous; feeds on a variety of fruits, including members of the Arecaceae, Annonaceae and Sapindaceae. Seen singly or in pairs, occasionally in small flocks.

The advertising call is a deep, three-note series in which a long upslurred notes is followed by a short note, then a longer downslur ‘woo-uh-woo’ (3 Pratt, T. K., and B. M. Beehler (2015) Birds of New Guinea. Second edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ).

Occurs in both wet and dry seasons; eggs in Western Province in mid-Jul, in Trans-Fly from mid-Sept to Oct, and in R Sepik area in late Dec; a nestling was collected on Daru in Apr; in Irian Jaya, three occupied nests found in mid-Mar. Reported to breed colonially in mangroves or on small islands. Nest is a slight, flat platform of twigs, placed on a horizontal branch, usually over water; recorded at height of 1·5–6 m. Lays 1 white egg.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Usually considered to be common, but little specific population information available. Described as commonest pigeon in the Bintuni Bay area of NW Irian Jaya; over 200 birds were recorded in the R Turama area in mid-Jul 1988; 100 birds in the R Fly area (N of Kiunga) in Aug 1992, and the R Elevala area in early Apr 1994. Considered rare in the Ok Tedi area of Western Province, Papua New Guinea.