Family Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Torresian Imperial-pigeon (Ducula spilorrhoa)
Taxonomy
Carpophaga spilorrhoa
G. R. Gray
, 1858,Aru Islands
.Clearly very closely related to D. bicolor (which see), D. subflavescens and D. luctuosa; the notion that yellow bill is a constant character of present species is not borne out by museum material, which describes bills as “blue slate”, “slate-blue”, “greenish-slate, yellow tip”, “olive-yellow”, “yellow”, “yellow, cere battleship grey”, etc., suggesting perhaps an age-related or seasonal condition. Often united with D. subflavescens but differs on account of its white vs yellowish plumage (3), grey-tinged vs black primary underwing-coverts (2), and narrower black tips of outer tail (2)#R. Proposed races include tarara (SC New Guinea) and melvillensis (Melville I) but these forms are confused by intergradation. Proposed form constans (Kimberley region of NW Australia) has even been considered a separate species, but is not widely accepted; herein provisionally not recognized at any level, pending further work. Monotypic.
Aru Is, and coastal New Guinea (penetrating inland along some major rivers) and islands in Geelvink Bay E to D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago, Trobriand Is, Woodlark Is and Louisiade Archipelago, then S to N & NE Australia (Kimberley region and NW Northern Territory E to N & C Cape York Peninsula, and S down E Queensland coast to Aquila I, near Carmila).
Locally common in Cairns, Australia
This bird can be locally common or even abundant in some parts of Cairns, Australia in the summer, e.g., in areas adjacent to Botanic Garden. Small flocks are frequently observed in plam trees.