Wompoo fruit-dove

Megaloprepia magnifica

(Photo from FollowPics)

Common name:
wompoo fruit-dove (en); pombo-da-fruta-magnífico (pt); ptilope magnifique (fr); tilopo magnífico (es); langschwanz-fruchttaube (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Columbiformes
Family Columbidae

Range:
This species is found throughout New Guina and along the north-eastern coast of Australia from Cape york in northern Queensland to Sidney in New South Wales.

Size:
These birds are 29-45 cm long and weigh 250-500 g.

Habitat:
The wompoo fruit-dove is found in tropical rainforests and adjacent wet sclerophyll forests, as well as in second growths, pastures and farmland with scattered trees. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.400 m.

Diet:
These birds are frugivorous, taking a wide range of forest fruits such as figs, fruits of cinnamon trees and palm fruits. They have been recorded taking the fruits of Arecaceae,
Vitaceae, Araliaceae, Cunoniaceae, Ebenaceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Lauraceae, Meliaceae,Moraceae, Myrtaceae, Oleaceae, Pennantiaceae, Rutaceae and Sapindaceae.

Breeding:
Wompoo fruit-doves can probably breed all year round. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of a small, sturdy platform made of twigs, placed in a tree 2-10 m above the ground. There the female lays a single white egg which is incubated by both sexes for 18-21 days. The chicks fledge 2-3 weeks after hatching. Each pair raises a single chick per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is reported to be widespread and common to fairly common. The population is suspected to be in decline and became, locally extinct in the southernmost parts of its range owing to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation, and unsustainable levels of exploitation.