Pink-Necked Green Pigeon

Quick Take

• This pigeon's dazzling, eye-catching colors serve a purpose most people wouldn't expect. See the colorful plumage →
• It shares a name with pigeons, but this bird sounds nothing like one. Hear about its sounds →
• Pink-necked green pigeon chicks abandon the nest at a startlingly young age, and the actual timing is even earlier than you'd think. Explore chick development →
• Mothers have an unusual trick for shielding their nests from predators that has nothing to do with fighting back. Discover camouflage tactics →

The pink-necked green pigeon is a brightly colored bird found in Southeast Asian forests and mangroves. Its brilliant coloring acts as camouflage against its favorite fruit trees. Listen for their whistling calls and raspy quacking sounds among the foliage. This species has adapted well to urbanization, thriving near human habitations.

5 Amazing Pink-Necked Green Pigeon Facts

• The pink-necked green pigeon’s favorite food is figs.
• These birds don’t coo like other pigeons. Instead, they make whistling and quacking noises.
• They are social and like to feed in small groups or large flocks of up to 70 birds.
• Males and females breed year-round and take turns incubating their eggs.
• Mother birds spread their wings over their nest to conceal it from predators.

Where to Find the Pink-Necked Green Pigeon

This species has a relatively extensive range from Southern Myanmar to Indonesia and as far east as the Philippines. You can find them in the Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The pink-necked green pigeon inhabits many habitats, such as primary and secondary forests and coastal mangroves. However, it prefers open areas and is often found on the edge of a forest in the lowlands and close to the coast. You can also find it near human habitations in gardens and farmlands. Look for this bird in the mid-canopy of its forest habitat, foraging for fruit near the ends of branches.

Nests

The nest is a simple, loosely constructed platform of twigs, grasses, and other delicate materials. Both sexes assist in building the nest; males gather the materials, and females shape it. They place it in a tree, hedge, or shrub close to the ground.

Classification and Scientific Name

The pink-necked green pigeon (Treron vernans) is in the bird family, Columbidae, which consists of pigeons and doves. The genus Treron comprises the green pigeon members distributed across Asia and Africa. Vernans, its specific name, is Latin for “brilliant” or “flourishing.” The pink-necked green pigeon has had up to nine subspecies.

Size, Appearance, and Behavior

The pink-necked green pigeon is a medium-sized pigeon weighing 3.7 to 5.6 ounces and averaging 9.8 to 11.8 inches long. Their wingspan is unknown. Males have gray heads, pink necks, orange breasts, olive backs, and wings with black and yellow edging. Females are smaller and have a yellow belly, throat, and face, and a green head and nape. 

These birds are not particularly vocal and only make noises when roosting or finding food. They don’t make traditional cooing sounds like other pigeons. Instead, They produce whistling and raspy quacking noises. These birds are fast fliers, reaching speeds up to 77 mph.

Migration Pattern and Timing

This species is nonmigratory but may make local movements. It may cover a vast area in search of fruit.

Diet

Pink-necked green pigeons are frugivores, meaning they primarily eat fruit.

What Does the Pink-Necked Green Pigeon Eat?

They will eat from a range of fruit trees, but their favorite is the fig tree. This bird will also eat shoots, buds, and seeds. To forage, it clings to fine branches in mid-canopy forests and is agile as it reaches for the fruit. Its gizzard contains grit, which it uses to grind and digest food. This species is also quite social, feeding in groups ranging from a few birds to large flocks of up to 70. 

Predators, Threats, and Conservation Status

The IUCN lists the pink-necked green pigeon as “Least Concern.” Due to its extensive range and stable population, this species does not meet the threshold for “near-threatened” status. This bird does not appear to face significant threats and has adapted well to urbanization. In select countries, like Thailand and Malaysia, however, it has suffered from hunting and the cage bird trade.

What Eats the Pink-Necked Green Pigeon?

The main predators of the pink-necked green pigeon are white-bellied sea eagles and peregrine falcons. Their pink and green coloring serves as camouflage in their fruit tree habitats. Mothers have also been observed spreading their wings over their nests to protect their young.

Reproduction, Young, and Molting

Breeding occurs year-round throughout its range, except in February. Little is known about their breeding biology, and most data only comes from one study. Females lay around two eggs. Incubation takes approximately 17 days, with females incubating at night and males during the day. Parents take turns caring for the chicks continuously for the first few days after hatching, and the chicks leave the nest at ten days old. They remain in the nesting area for a few more days. Their average lifespan is four to five years.

Population

The number of mature individuals in their population is unknown, but the IUCN describes this species as common and abundant. The pink-necked green pigeon appears to have decreasing numbers, but shows no extreme fluctuations or fragmentations based on available evidence.