Nilgiris Wood Pigeon

Why in News?

A recent study titled warns that climate change could drastically restrict Nilgiris Wood Pigeon suitable habitat in the Western Ghats by the end of the century.

• Scientific Name – Columba elphinstonii.
• Family – Columbidae.
• Habitat – Moist evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests of the Western Ghats.
• Especially high-elevation “shola” forests, mainly 900–2,250 m and wooded ravines.
• Distribution – Endemic resident of the Western Ghats.
• Scarce and patchily distributed at mid- and high elevations.
• Range – Recorded across hill ranges including the Nilgiris, Anamalai, Biligirirangan hills and adjoining landscapes.
• Key Identification
  • Head – Bluish-grey head, darker neck and chest.
  • Pattern – Clear black-and-white patch on the back of the neck (most distinctive feature).
  • Body Colour – Dark grey to slate-grey; upper back shows a maroon/chestnut shine.
  • Male vs Female – Male has a lighter grey crown (head), and the female looks duller and browner.
• Behaviour – It is a non-migratory species that shows local/nomadic movements linked to food availability and climate.
• Breeding - Breeds mainly from March to July in natural forests.
• Diet – Primarily feeds on fruits, seeds, flowers, leaf buds and some ground invertebrates.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN – Least Concern (LC).
• Threats – Climate change (projected habitat contraction and upslope shifts), forest loss, degradation and fragmentation.

References

1. TH | Nilgiri Wood Pigeon
2. IUCN | Nilgiri Wood Pigeon