Common Name: Magnificent Ground Pigeon, Green-naped Pigeon
Scientific Name: Otidiphaps nobilis nobilis
Family: Columbiformes
Order: Aves
Class: Chordata

The colors of the young are more grayish black and wooly, while the adults are very colorful, with an iridescent green-blue ring around their neck. The wings and back are brown, with black breasts and stomachs. The pheasant pigeon has a short and plump body, commonly found in many of the pheasants. Its head is very small, as is common with pigeons.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT:

It is endemic to New Guinea, as well as many of the islands around it, including Papua New Guinea It is generally found in the hills and mountains, at heights of up to 4,000 feet.

The pheasant pigeon is a terrestrial bird that not only spends most if its time on the ground, it also nests on the ground. It is also a very shy bird, easily flushed from its hiding spot. Because of this, most of these birds behaviors have only been observed in captivity. Since the pheasant pigeon spends most of its time on the ground, it prefers to run, but has been observed in flight. Its call is often referred to as a moaning coo.

Its diet, it gets from the forest floor, including seeds and berries.

Actual nesting has only been observed in captivity. During the observations, it has been noted that both the males and females take turns incubating the egg. The males also care for both the female and the young during the first week after hatching. Then, both sexes take turns caring for the young.

Goodwin, D. Pigeons and Doves of the World. Comstock Pub. Assoc. 1977

Rand, A. and T. Gilleard. Handbook of the New Guinea Birds. Weidenfield and Nicolson Pub. England. 1967.

International Dove Society Homepage. July 2002. http://www.internationaldovesociety.com/seed%20species/pheasant%/20Pigeons.htm