AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

1303. Alsocomus palumboides

1303. Alsocomus palumboides.

The Andaman Wood-Pigeon.

Carpophaga palumboides, Hume, S. F. i, p. 302; ii, pp. 263, 498 ; iii, p. 327; iv, p. 292; id. Cat. no. 781 quat. Ianthoenas palumboides, Walden, Ibis, 1873, p. 315, pl. xiii. Ianthoenas nicobarica, Walden, A. M. N. H. (4) xiv, p. 157. Columba palumboides, Salvadori, Cat. B. M. xxi, p. 308.

Coloration. Male. Head and neck all round whitish grey, with slight metallic gloss, the neck rather darker and the lower hind neck with a metallic emerald-green gloss, remainder of upper parts blackish; quills blackish brown; rump and upper tail-coverts dark slaty grey; borders of feathers on back, wing-coverts, rump, and upper tail-coverts with an amethystine gloss, changing to green ; lower parts from neck slaty grey, with slight metallic greenish and purplish gloss ; wing-lining dark slaty.

In the female the head and neck are slightly darker grey than in the male. In the young (Ianthoenas nicobarica) the head and neck are still darker and brownish, and the colour throughout duller.

Bill pale whitish yellow, basal portion lake-red; irides orange, externally light red; naked orbital region pinkish lake ; legs and feet red, paler behind; soles whitish ; claws white.

Length about 16; tail 6.5; wing 9.5; tarsus 1.1; bill from gape 1.5.

Distribution. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Habits, &c. This is also a fruit-eating species, so closely re¬sembling Carpophaga in appearance and habits that it was referred to that genus by Hume. It is found singly or in small parties on the Andamans and Nicobars, keeping much to high trees; it has a loud, deep note.

BookTitle: 
The Fauna Of British India, Including Ceylon And Burma-birds
Reference: 
Blanford, William Thomas, ed. The Fauna of British India: Including Ceylon and Burma. Vol. 4. 1898.
Title in Book: 
1303. Alsocomus palumboides
Book Author: 
William Thomas Blanford
CatNo: 
1303
Year: 
1898
Page No: 
39
Common name: 
Andaman Wood Pigeon
M_ID: 
4862
M_CN: 
Andaman Wood Pigeon
M_SN: 
Columba palumboides
Volume: 
Vol. 4
id: 
1843

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