Family Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Near Threatened
Whistling Dove (Chrysoena viridis)
Taxonomy
French: Ptilope de Layard German: Smaragdfruchttaube Spanish: Tilopo de la Kadavu
Other common names:
Velvet Dove
Taxonomy:
Chrysœna viridis
E. L. Layard
, 1875,Kadavu, Fiji
.Distribution:
SW Fiji: Kadavu and Ono.
Descriptive notes
19–20 cm. Uniformly green except for a greenish yellow head, white centre of lower belly, and yellow undertail-coverts; feathers of mantle, lower neck and upper breast... read more
Voice
Two distinct vocalisations. A loud rising melodious whistle (easily imitated) immediately followed... read more
Habitat
Usually found in well forested areas in the lowlands but also occurs in montane areas. On Ono it is... read more
Food and feeding
Mainly frugivorous, but no detailed information on diet is available; also reported to take caterpillars and small insects. Feeds from just... read more
Breeding
The few records are all from the second half of the year. Nest is a slight platform of twigs or pieces of vine, 10–12 cm in diameter... read more
Movements
No information on movements or home range. Flight swift and direct with whirring wing-beats.
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. BirdLife Fiji surveys in 2000 found this species to be common in evergreen forests, with a total ... read more
Formerly separated, along with C. victor, in subgenus Chrysophaps, but this was based on characters shared with C. luteovirens. If present species is placed in genus Ptilinopus, the name viridis becomes preoccupied and must then be replaced by layardi. Monotypic.