The pheasant pigeon (Otidiphaps nobilis) is a species of large terrestrialpigeon. It is the only species of the monotypic genus Otidiphaps. The pheasant pigeon is found in the primary rainforests of New Guinea and nearby islands. It ranges primarily over hilly and lower mountain areas, but can also be found in lowlands.
The genus name makes reference to its similarities to the bustard family (Otidae). Its common name reflects its adaptation to living on the forest floor in the fashion of a South East Asian pheasant.
Subspeciesedit
Commonly, there are four subspecies recognized that differ primarily in the presence or absence of a small crest and in the colour of the nape:[2]
White-naped pheasant pigeon (O. n. aruensis) – Rothschild, 1928: Found on the Aru Islands, Vulnerable[3]
Green-naped pheasant pigeon (O. n. nobilis) – Gould, 1870: Found on western New Guinea, Batanta and Waigeo Islands, Least concern.[1]
Grey-naped pheasant pigeon (O. n. cervicalis) – Ramsay, EP, 1880: Found on eastern and south-eastern New Guinea, Least concern.[4]
Black-naped pheasant pigeon (O. n. insularis) – Salvin & Godman, 1883: Found on Fergusson Island, Critically Endangered.[5]
Some authors, however, recognize the four subspecies as four different species, a classification scheme followed by the IUCN.[6][1]
Descriptionedit
The pheasant pigeon resembles a pheasant in external morphology, particularly in its laterally compressed tail and rounded wings. They have glossy black heads, undersides, rears and lower backs, and short rounded brown wings, and a white, green, grey, or black nape depending on the subspecies. No galliform birds occur in New Guinea, and the pheasant pigeon has filled the ecological niche of a partridge or small pheasant (while the larger Goura crowned pigeons have a lifestyle similar to larger pheasants, grouse or turkeys). It is a highly secretive species, feeding on seeds and fallen fruits. It nests on the ground below trees and bushes, laying one egg that it incubates for around four weeks. Both adults incubate and look after the young, feeding regurgitated crop milk to their young (a common practice for most pigeons).
They have a range of calls including a drilling-like sound, a typical pigeon cooing call and a loud "wu-huwoooooa" call that rises and falls in pitch before trailing off at the end.
They are found in rainforest habitats, eating fallen fruits and seeds, in the Aru Islands. As they avoid human settlements, the little that is known about their behavior comes from observation at zoos.
O. n. nobilis
O. n. nobilis in a zoo
O. n. insularis
Captive O. n. aruensis (vulnerable)
Status and conservationedit
It is believed that the species is slowly declining due to deforestation of their habitats from pressure for logging and agricultural space. Because it is tied to primary forests, and is unique within the pigeon family, it is considered a genus that requires further investigation and monitoring. The green-naped pheasant pigeon (nominate subspecies) and the grey-naped pheasant pigeon are not considered threatened, but the black-naped pheasant pigeon is considered critically endangered and the white-naped pheasant pigeon is vulnerable. The black-naped pheasant pigeon was for a long time known to science only from the type specimen collected in 1882,[7] but it was found on Fergusson Island in late 2022.[8][9]
Referencesedit
^ abcBirdLife International (2016). "Otidiphaps nobilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22725247A94888276. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22725247A94888276.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2018). "Pigeons". World Bird List Version 8.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
^BirdLife International (2016). "Otidiphaps aruensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22728031A94968761. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22728031A94968761.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^BirdLife International (2016). "Otidiphaps cervicalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22725258A94888451. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22725258A94888451.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^BirdLife International (2021). "Otidiphaps insularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T22726273A216252040. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
^Gregg, Jason; Nason, Doka; Boersma, Jordan (September 2020). "Survey of the montane avifauna of Fergusson Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 140 (3): 309–320. doi:10.25226/bboc.v140i3.2020.a4. ISSN 0007-1595. S2CID 221823968.
^Leonard, Pat (17 November 2022). "Lost pigeon found after more than a century". Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
^Sottile, Zoe (19 November 2022). "This bird hadn't been documented by scientists since 1882. Then they captured video of it in Papua New Guinea". CNN. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
del Hoyo, Elliott and Sargatal (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol 4. ISBN84-87334-22-9,
External linksedit
Media related to Otidiphaps nobilis at Wikimedia Commons
February 15, 2024
pheasant, pigeon, pheasant, pigeon, otidiphaps, nobilis, species, large, terrestrial, pigeon, only, species, monotypic, genus, otidiphaps, pheasant, pigeon, found, primary, rainforests, guinea, nearby, islands, ranges, primarily, over, hilly, lower, mountain, . The pheasant pigeon Otidiphaps nobilis is a species of large terrestrial pigeon It is the only species of the monotypic genus Otidiphaps The pheasant pigeon is found in the primary rainforests of New Guinea and nearby islands It ranges primarily over hilly and lower mountain areas but can also be found in lowlands Pheasant pigeonWhite naped pheasant pigeonScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder ColumbiformesFamily ColumbidaeGenus OtidiphapsGould 1870Species O nobilisBinomial nameOtidiphaps nobilisGould 1870 Contents 1 Taxonomy and systematics 1 1 Subspecies 2 Description 3 Status and conservation 4 References 5 External linksTaxonomy and systematics editThe genus name makes reference to its similarities to the bustard family Otidae Its common name reflects its adaptation to living on the forest floor in the fashion of a South East Asian pheasant Subspecies edit Commonly there are four subspecies recognized that differ primarily in the presence or absence of a small crest and in the colour of the nape 2 White naped pheasant pigeon O n aruensis Rothschild 1928 Found on the Aru Islands Vulnerable 3 Green naped pheasant pigeon O n nobilis Gould 1870 Found on western New Guinea Batanta and Waigeo Islands Least concern 1 Grey naped pheasant pigeon O n cervicalis Ramsay EP 1880 Found on eastern and south eastern New Guinea Least concern 4 Black naped pheasant pigeon O n insularis Salvin amp Godman 1883 Found on Fergusson Island Critically Endangered 5 Some authors however recognize the four subspecies as four different species a classification scheme followed by the IUCN 6 1 Description editThe pheasant pigeon resembles a pheasant in external morphology particularly in its laterally compressed tail and rounded wings They have glossy black heads undersides rears and lower backs and short rounded brown wings and a white green grey or black nape depending on the subspecies No galliform birds occur in New Guinea and the pheasant pigeon has filled the ecological niche of a partridge or small pheasant while the larger Goura crowned pigeons have a lifestyle similar to larger pheasants grouse or turkeys It is a highly secretive species feeding on seeds and fallen fruits It nests on the ground below trees and bushes laying one egg that it incubates for around four weeks Both adults incubate and look after the young feeding regurgitated crop milk to their young a common practice for most pigeons They have a range of calls including a drilling like sound a typical pigeon cooing call and a loud wu huwoooooa call that rises and falls in pitch before trailing off at the end They are found in rainforest habitats eating fallen fruits and seeds in the Aru Islands As they avoid human settlements the little that is known about their behavior comes from observation at zoos nbsp O n nobilis nbsp O n nobilis in a zoo nbsp O n insularis nbsp Captive O n aruensis vulnerable Status and conservation editIt is believed that the species is slowly declining due to deforestation of their habitats from pressure for logging and agricultural space Because it is tied to primary forests and is unique within the pigeon family it is considered a genus that requires further investigation and monitoring The green naped pheasant pigeon nominate subspecies and the grey naped pheasant pigeon are not considered threatened but the black naped pheasant pigeon is considered critically endangered and the white naped pheasant pigeon is vulnerable The black naped pheasant pigeon was for a long time known to science only from the type specimen collected in 1882 7 but it was found on Fergusson Island in late 2022 8 9 References edit a b c BirdLife International 2016 Otidiphaps nobilis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22725247A94888276 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22725247A94888276 en Retrieved 18 November 2021 Gill Frank Donsker David eds 2018 Pigeons World Bird List Version 8 1 International Ornithologists Union Retrieved 4 February 2018 BirdLife International 2016 Otidiphaps aruensis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22728031A94968761 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22728031A94968761 en Retrieved 18 November 2021 BirdLife International 2016 Otidiphaps cervicalis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22725258A94888451 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22725258A94888451 en Retrieved 18 November 2021 BirdLife International 2021 Otidiphaps insularis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T22726273A216252040 Retrieved 21 November 2022 Comparison of IOC 8 1 with other world lists by IOC World Bird List http www worldbirdnames org ioc lists master list 2 Archived 2016 10 02 at the Wayback Machine Gregg Jason Nason Doka Boersma Jordan September 2020 Survey of the montane avifauna of Fergusson Island Milne Bay Province Papua New Guinea Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club 140 3 309 320 doi 10 25226 bboc v140i3 2020 a4 ISSN 0007 1595 S2CID 221823968 Leonard Pat 17 November 2022 Lost pigeon found after more than a century Cornell Lab of Ornithology Sottile Zoe 19 November 2022 This bird hadn t been documented by scientists since 1882 Then they captured video of it in Papua New Guinea CNN Retrieved 20 November 2022 del Hoyo Elliott and Sargatal eds Handbook of the Birds of the World Vol 4 ISBN 84 87334 22 9 External links edit nbsp Media related to Otidiphaps nobilis at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pheasant pigeon amp oldid 1204486666, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
