Andaman Wood Pigeon       Columba palumboides

Etymology: 

• Columba : Latin word for Pigeon, dove
• Palumboides : Latin word palumbes wood pigeon; Greek word oides –resembling 

Distribution: Resident of Andaman & Nicobar Island 

Description: It has a size of 36–41 cm; weight of 510–520 g. The Head and neck are silvery grey, merging into darker grey with green gloss on upper mantle and light grey on breast. Rest of upperparts are black. The upper mantle is with green gloss, feathers on rest of mantle, back and rump are with iridescent purple and green fringes. The flanks and undertail-coverts are dark grey. The iris is dark orange or red outer ring and inner ring of yellow or orange; orbital skin is purplish red. The legs are red or pink, claws are white. The bill is purplish red basally and greenish white or pale yellow distally.

The female has head and neck darker and less silvery.

The juvenile is mostly brownish grey and brownish black with little or no iridescence.

Habitat: It is found in forest. It is seen in pairs or small groups in dense parts of forest. It frequents dense wet evergreen forest and so is largely restricted to larger islands

Food habits:  It eats Fruits, especially figs and berries are main food items

Breeding habits: No information