Golden Fruit Doves

The Golden Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus luteovirens), also known as the Lemon Dove or Yellow Dove, is a small, approximately 20 cm (8 in) long, short-tailed fruit-dove in the family Columbidae. The common name refers to the males’ bright golden-yellow colour.

The Golden Fruit Dove is closely related to the allopatric (separate ranges) Whistling Fruit Dove and Orange Fruit Dove.

Description

The body feathers appear almost iridescent due to their elongated shape and hair-like texture. The head is slightly duller with a greenish tinge. The bill, orbital skin and legs are bluish-green and the iris is whitish. The underwings and tail coverts are yellow. The female is a dark green bird with bare parts resembling those of the male. The young resembles female.

Distribution / Range

The Golden Fruit Dove is distributed and endemic to forests of Viti Levu, Ovalau, Gau, Beqa and Waya group islands of Fiji.

A common species throughout its limited range, the Golden Fruit Dove is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Diet / Feeding

The diet consists mainly of various small fruits, berries and insects.

Breeding / Nesting

The female usually lays a single white egg.

Further Dove Information

 
 
 
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Gordon Ramel

Gordon is an ecologist with two degrees from Exeter University. He's also a teacher, a poet and the owner of 1,152 books. Oh - and he wrote this website.

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