Andaman Cuckoo Dove

Andaman Cuckoo Dove  Macropygia rufipennis

Etymology:

  • Macropygia: Greek word makros- long, deep; pugios –rumped { Long rumped}
  • Rufipennis: Latin word Rufi -red; pennis – Wings { Red winged}

Distribution in India: Resident of Andaman & Nicobar Islands in India.

Description: Size of 39–40 cm; Wt. of 230–285 g. The head and nape are rufous to chestnut, paler on cheeks and throat; hindneck is reddish brown to pale yellow-brown, barred and flecked with black; sides of neck and breast are reddish brown to chestnut barred with black, giving way to dusky bars and flecks on the belly. The undertail-coverts are chestnut; mantle, back and wings are dark brown with black barring and rusty fringes. The underwing are mostly chestnut; rump, uppertail-coverts and central rectrices are reddish brown; outer rectrices are lighter coloured with blackish subterminal bands and basal areas; iris is pale blue with outer purplish red ring; orbital skin is greyish blue; bill is pinkish to pinkish purple; legs and feet are pinkish red or pinkish horn. The female is redder in general appearance; crown is more rusty with black speckling; sides of neck, breast and underparts are rusty with little or no barring or speckling; wing-coverts are with broad rusty tips; primaries and secondaries are mostly rusty chestnut, tipped and flecked with blackish brown. The juvenile is similar to female but hindneck and mantle have more conspicuous barring, and plumage is less reddish throughout.

Habitat: It is found in heavy evergreen and secondary forest.

Food habits: It eats fruits and berries; staple food in some areas is bird’s-eye chili (Capsicum fastigiatum) which grows commonly in secondary jungle and at edges of clearings. It feeds in trees, and also on ground.

Breeding habits: Breeds in Feb-Apr in India.