Fruit dove profile

Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon (Ducula luctuosa)

Species at a glance

The Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon (Ducula luctuosa) is a large, predominantly white imperial pigeon with silvery-grey flight feathers edged in dark markings. It occurs on Sulawesi and neighbouring islands and uses lowland forest, mangroves and modified woodland. Its stock within the European Fruit Dove Project is currently regarded as secure.

Distribution: Sulawesi and neighbouring islands, including the Sula Islands.
Size / characteristics: about 37–48 cm | around 410 g | predominantly white plumage, silvery-grey flight feathers with dark edges, and dark markings on belly and undertail | sexes externally similar
Status: Project stock secure

Description

The Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon can be distinguished from the Pied Imperial Pigeon by its pale silvery-grey, dark-edged flight feathers. Dark markings on the belly, thighs and undertail may give the plumage a lightly mottled appearance. Males and females are externally similar. The species is restricted to Sulawesi and neighbouring islands but appears comparatively adaptable in its choice of habitat. The secure project stock provides a good basis for long-term documentation of pedigree, breeding results and husbandry observations.

Profile & short facts for Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon

English name	Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon
German name	Elsterfruchttaube
Scientific name	Ducula luctuosa
Genus	Ducula
Category	Ducula - imperial pigeons
Distribution	Sulawesi and neighbouring islands, including the Sula Islands.
Subspecies	Monotypic; no subspecies are currently widely recognised.
Size / characteristics	about 37–48 cm \| around 410 g \| predominantly white plumage, silvery-grey flight feathers with dark edges, and dark markings on belly and undertail \| sexes externally similar
Status	Project stock secure

Habitat and natural range

Tropical lowland forest, open and secondary woodland, mangroves, and more heavily modified forest and cultivated landscapes.

Feeding in the European Fruit Dove Project

The species feeds mainly on fruit and berries, foraging primarily in trees and larger shrubs. In human care, a varied fruit ration should be combined with a suitable complementary diet for frugivorous pigeons. Food intake, body weight and tolerance of individual dietary components should be documented consistently within the project.

Husbandry in the European Fruit Dove Project

The species requires a spacious aviary with open flight space, elevated perches and sheltered areas. Because it also uses forest edges and more open habitats, the enclosure should combine clear flight lines with structured retreat zones. Year-round frost-free housing and careful observation in mixed-species settings remain essential.

Breeding and offspring

The clutch normally consists of a single egg. Quiet, elevated and stable nest sites with suitable twig material support undisturbed breeding behaviour. As the project stock is regarded as secure, pair formation, incubation, hatching and juvenile development should be recorded consistently so that species-specific experience remains reliable.

Subspecies and systematics

Monotypic; no subspecies are currently widely recognised.

Special notes on the species

The silvery-grey rather than black flight feathers are an important feature separating this species from the similarly coloured Pied Imperial Pigeon. It is treated as a distinct monotypic island species.

Conservation status

IUCN	Least Concern
CITES	Not listed
EU species protection	Not listed
Ring size	11,0 mm

Further sources

Images of the Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon

Image of Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon (Ducula luctuosa) — Elsterfruchttaube im Zoo Berlin (© Johannes Pfleiderer)

Image credits

Charakteristische Färbung der Schwungfedern der Elsterfruchttaube - hellgrau mit dunkler Umrandung (© Johannes Pfleiderer)