Fruit dove profile

Wompoo Fruit Dove (Megaloprepia magnifica)

Species at a glance

The Wompoo Fruit Dove (Megaloprepia magnifica) is one of the largest and most vividly coloured fruit doves. Its purple breast, yellow belly, green upperparts and pale wing-bar define its appearance. It occurs in New Guinea and offshore islands and in eastern Australia. The project stock is small and still being developed.

Distribution: New Guinea and several offshore island groups, and eastern Australia from Cape York Peninsula to eastern New South Wales.
Size / characteristics: about 29–45 cm | grey head, green upperparts, pale wing-bar, purple breast and yellow lower belly | sexes externally similar; regional forms differ markedly in size
Status: Project stock small and still being developed; breeding is challenging

Description

The Wompoo Fruit Dove is a large, robust forest pigeon. Typical features include a grey head, green upperparts, a pale wing-bar and a rich purple breast grading into a yellow lower belly. Males and females are externally similar. Regional populations differ strongly in size and plumage; five subspecies are used in the AviList concept applied here, although other checklists divide some New Guinea populations more finely. The small project stock requires careful documentation of origin and subspecies.

Profile & short facts for Wompoo Fruit Dove

English name	Wompoo Fruit Dove
German name	Purpurbrust-Fruchttaube
Scientific name	Megaloprepia magnifica
Genus	Megaloprepia
Category	Fruit doves of other genera
Distribution	New Guinea and several offshore island groups, and eastern Australia from Cape York Peninsula to eastern New South Wales.
Subspecies	Five subspecies in the AviList concept used here: M. m. magnifica, M. m. puella, M. m. poliura, M. m. assimilis and M. m. keri. Other checklists treat some New Guinea populations differently.
Size / characteristics	about 29–45 cm \| grey head, green upperparts, pale wing-bar, purple breast and yellow lower belly \| sexes externally similar; regional forms differ markedly in size
Status	Project stock small and still being developed; breeding is challenging
Synonyms	Ptilinopus magnificus

Habitat and natural range

Tropical and subtropical rainforest, moist gallery forest, forest edges and mature secondary woodland.

Feeding in the European Fruit Dove Project

The species feeds mainly on fruit and berries and can swallow relatively large forest fruits whole because of its large bill. In human care, a varied fruit ration should be combined with a balanced complementary food for frugivorous pigeons. Body weight, condition and food intake should be monitored regularly in this large species.

Husbandry in the European Fruit Dove Project

This large and powerful fruit dove requires a particularly spacious, well-structured and permanently frost-free aviary with long open flight paths, stable elevated perches and generously sized feeding stations. Multiple retreat and escape areas help reduce competition. Origin and subspecies should be clarified before pairs are formed.

Breeding and offspring

Quiet, elevated and particularly load-bearing nest sites with sturdy twig material are required. As the project stock is small and breeding is considered challenging, pair formation, subspecies, pedigree, laying, hatching and rearing should be documented completely.

Subspecies and systematics

Five subspecies in the AviList concept used here: M. m. magnifica, M. m. puella, M. m. poliura, M. m. assimilis and M. m. keri. Other checklists treat some New Guinea populations differently.

Special notes on the species

The common name reflects the characteristic call, often rendered as “wom-poo”. Northern Australian forms are distinctly smaller than the more southerly nominate form.

Conservation status

IUCN	Least Concern
CITES	Not listed
EU species protection	Not listed
Ring size	7,0 mm

Further sources

Images of the Wompoo Fruit Dove

Image of Wompoo Fruit Dove (Megaloprepia magnifica) — Purpurbrust-Fruchttaube mit Jungtier (© Thomas Breuer)