Slender-billed cuckoo-dove

Slender-billed cuckoo-dove
M. a. albicapilla at Mount Mahawu, North Sulawesi
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Genus:	Macropygia
Species:	M. amboinensis
Binomial name
Macropygia amboinensis (Linnaeus, 1766)

The slender-billed cuckoo-dove, or brown cuckoo-dove (Macropygia amboinensis) is a dove in the genus Macropygia. In Australia, it is sometimes called "brown pigeon" or "pheasant pigeon", but both are best avoided, as they can lead to confusion with the brown doves and the true pheasant pigeon. The taxonomy of the slender-billed cuckoo-dove is disputed, and some authorities split it into two species: M. amboinensis (slender-billed cuckoo-dove) of eastern Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, and M. phasianella (brown cuckoo-dove) of eastern Australia from Weipa and Aurukun in the north to Bega in the south, and most inland at Atherton and Toowoomba.

The Australia subspecies is from 40 to 43 centimetres (16 to 17 in) in length, but the subspecies from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are typically about 35–37 centimetres (14–15 in) long. In Australia, the feathers are a rich rusty-brown colour, and the short wings, long tail and back are darker. The males tend to have a slight rose/green colouration on their nape and neck. In Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, many subspecies have whitish underparts, fine dark barring below and/or a whitish cap.

The call of this dove is a very loud "whoop-a whoop" with some differences depending on the subspecies involved.

The slender-billed cuckoo-dove inhabits rainforest, woodland, scrubland and rainforest regrowth areas.

The doves can often be seen in pairs or groups. Its diet consists of berries from both native plants and introduced weed species. They can be nomadic, depending on the supplies of food. They tend to fly short distances and low to the ground with great strength.

Breeding occurs in spring and summer. The nest is a flat platform of sticks and vines, either in a fork of a tree or on top of a low tree. One, creamy white, egg is laid.

Kobble Creek, SE Queensland

References

1. BirdLife International (2013). "Macropygia amboinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.

• Lamington National Park - Brown Cuckoo-Dove
• North Queensland Bird Watching - Brown Cuckoo-Dove
• Pizzey and Knight, "Field Guide to the Birds of Australia", Angus & Robertson, ISBN 0-207-19691-5