Pink-Necked Green Pigeon

This pigeon is social and likes to feed in groups.

The pink-necked green pigeon is a brightly-colored bird found in Southeast Asian forests and mangroves. Their brilliant coloring acts as camouflage against their favorite fruit trees. Listen for their whistling and raspy quacks against the foliage. This species has adapted well to urbanization, thriving near human habitations. Find out everything there is to know about this pink and green pigeon, including where they live, what they eat, and how they behave.

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 them 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.

Nest

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 form it. They place it in a tree, hedge, or shrub close to the ground.

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. Vernan, 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. Their plumage is sexually dimorphic. Females are smaller and have a yellow belly, throat, and face and a green head and back of the neck. 

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 a whistle 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 will cover a vast range in search of fruit.

Diet

Pink-necked green pigeons are frugivores, which means that 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 its reaches for the fruit. Its gizzard contains grit, which is used to grind and digest food. This species is also quite social, feeding in small groups or large flocks of up to 70 birds. 

Predators, Threats, and Conservation Status

The IUCN lists the pink-necked green pigeon as the “least concern.” Due to its extensive range and stable population, this species does not meet the threshold for “near-threatened” status. This bird doesn’t appear to endure significant threats and has adapted well to urbanization. In select countries, like Thailand and Malaysia, however, it has suffered some 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 were also 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 they 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 old.

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 stable numbers with no extreme fluctuations or fragmentations (in the absence of evidence).

Similar Animals:

• Nicobar Pigeon
• Pigeon Vs. Dove: 2 Key Differences Explained
• Mourning Dove

1. IUCN Red List, Available here: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22691137/93303843
2. Hindawi International Journal of Zoology, Available here: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijz/2011/758573/
3. Singapore Nature Society, Available here: https://www.nss.org.sg/articles/f0766cb6-eForgingaCloserRelationship.pdf