Red-knobbed Imperial-Pigeon Ducula rubricera Scientific name definitions

38–45 cm; 628–722 g. Head , nape, and upper breast pale mauve-pink shading through darker pink on lower breast  to chestnut on belly, flanks and undertail-coverts; hindneck pale silvery grey; narrow white band around base of bill and eye  ; mantle, rump and wing-coverts brilliant iridescent emerald, bronzy or golden green; secondaries and tail feathers dark glossy green and blackish blue; primaries blackish blue; underwing dull grey; iris dark red; bill dark grey; enlarged knob-like cere cherry red, yellow in some individuals; legs purplish red. Sexes alike, but female rarely has bronzy iridescence on mantle. Juvenile resembles adult but lacks enlarged red cere. Race <em>rufigula</em> has pink on head confined to cheeks and throat , with crown, neck and breast pale grey; lower breast is darker pink and underparts deeper chestnut.

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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 forest and second growth; also fruiting trees in partially cleared areas. Found from sea-level up to 300 m on Bougainville, to 700 m on New Ireland, to 1000 m on New Britain and up to 1100 m on the larger Solomon Is.

No information on movements or home range. Often seen flying above the canopy; flies strongly.

Frugivorous, taking a variety of fruits and berries. Feeds in the canopy; usually seen alone or in pairs , but flocks of up to 34 are recorded.

On the Solomons, a low-pitched drawn-out hoot at increasing then fading amplitude, which can also exhibit a slight frequency modulation, “whooOOOoooh” (duration c. 2 seconds). Also a repeated, higher-pitched and burry, overslurred cooing note, “rrrhooou” (duration c. 0·5–1·0 seconds). Additionally, a peculiar barking call of 5–6 notes, “kow..k-yow..k-yow..k-yow..k-yow”. These three vocalizations have also been heard on New Britain, at most with slight differences.

Little information. Large numbers were reported to be nesting in low shrubs in C Solomons in Feb; birds in breeding condition collected on Bougainville Jul–Sept. Lays 1 egg.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. The global population is estimated at 15,000–30,000 individuals. It is still common where extensive forest remains but much rarer in degraded habitats . It is suspected to have declined rapidly in recent years owing to ongoing clearance of lowland forest, particularly in New Britain, where clearance for oil palm plantations has been intense and continues (3 Buchanan, G.M., Butchart, S.H.M., Dutson, G.C.L., Pilgrim, J.D., Steininger, M.K., Bishop, K.D. and Mayaux, P. (2008). Using remote sensing to inform conservation status assessment: estimates of recent deforestation rates on New Britain and the impacts upon endemic birds. Biological Conservation. 141(1): 56–66. Close ).