I
was first drawn to this bird by its frequent visit to the Indian Cherry
Tree. This green pigeon moves acrobatically on the thinnest of branches
foraging for fruits. Moving in small flocks or in pairs, they frequent
fruiting trees or scrubs for food. Their green plumage blends well
into leaf foliage and provides a good camouflage. The male, which
is separated from the female by the pinkish-purple upper breast, shows
aggression during feeding by vocalising, chasing and vigorously bobbing
tail in defence of foraging patch.
These pigeons are good seed dispersers for trees like the Figs, Indian
Cherry and Wild Cinnamon and scrubs like the Singapore Rhododendron.
Unlike the Emerald-winged Pigeon, the Pink-necked hardly descends
to ground and is often spotted on canopies of treetop during early
morning and late afternoon. Breeding pairs have also been recorded
in the park. Nesting has been observed from late March to late July.
Pairs nest alone and not in masses. The nest often found at heights
at about five to eight feet and sites range from low scrub to trees,
commonly next to open ground and often on the Lesser Desmodiurn creepers. |
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Description:
Male:
combination of Grey head and throat, pinkish purple upper breast and
neck, and orange lower breast diagnostic. Mantle and wing covert apple
green; under tall covert chestnut. Female: uniform green plumage with
yellow tinge on belly; thighs mixed dark green aria yellow; under
tail covert pale cinnamon.
Voice: A series of rapidly
repeated loud gurgling whistling notes.
Status: Very common resident
in Singapore.
Habitat: Forest, mangrove,
orchards, gardens, parks.
Breeding: Late March
to late July. Male collects twig and passes to the female as she sits
in the developing nest. Both sexes incubate and feed. A minimal platform
of thin twigs, sparse enough for eggs to be seen from below, and facing
pond side. Eggs are plain white and elliptical. Fledgling found near
nesting site for up to one week.
Diet: Fruits from Macaranga,
Indian Cherry (Muntingia sp.), Small banyan figs (Ficus
benjamina). |
WETlands