Scientific name:

Columba elphinstonii

Description:

The most striking feature of the beautiful Nilgiri wood-pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) is the black and white checkerboard pattern on the back of its neck. Unlike its sometimes unpopular urban cousin, the rock pigeon (Columba livia), which is a familiar inhabitant of cities and parks, the Nilgiri wood-pigeon is a rather more rare bird, endemic to the Western Ghats in India.

The adult male Nilgiri wood-pigeon has dark brown or black plumage with a wonderful maroon sheen on its upper parts  and a darker grey or black chest and tail. Its face is also grey. The female and juvenile Nilgiri wood pigeons are slightly less glossy, lacking the metallic sheen to some degree, but otherwise appear very similar to the adult male.

Range:

The Nilgiri wood-pigeon is one of only 16 bird species endemic to the Western Ghats of south-western India. Its range stretches from north-western Maharashtra, south through to Karnataka and Goa, to southern Kerala and western Tamil Nadu. The Nilgiri wood-pigeon is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List.

Habitat:

The Nilgiri wood-pigeon inhabits moist evergrenn and semi-evergreen forest, including densely wooded ravines and hollows known as ‘sholas’. It occurs primarily in foothills and mountains, up to 2,250 metres above sea level. It may also be found in Eucalyptus and Pinus plantations, but does not breed in these habitat.

Threats:

In the past, the Nilgiri wood-pigeon was threatened by hunting for sport and food. Today, the major threat to this species is habitat destruction. The clearance of land for agriculture and human settlements, combined with the cutting down of trees for fuel and building materials, has resulted in a significant decline in forest cover in the Western Ghats. In the Kerala region alone, a shocking 47 percent of evergreen and semi-evergreen forest was lost between 1961 and 1988, and forest cover has continued to decline since then.

Conservation Actions Underway

It is legally protected in India and occurs in at least 16 protected areas, most in Kerala, including three national parks, 10 wildlife sanctuaries, one tiger reserve and two reserve forests. A remote sensing project is planned to attempt to delimit the range and assess rates of forest loss.

Conservation Actions Proposed

Conduct research into seasonal movements and identify key sites. Establish protected areas where necessary, ensure these sites are effectively safeguarded, and promote sustainable exploitation of forests throughout the Western Ghats. Encourage the protection of all habitat types used by the species. Conserve and propagate preferred fruiting trees. Campaign for significant reductions in the conversion of natural forest to plantation. Promote community-based conservation initiatives focusing on alternatives to deforestation and restoration of disturbed natural habitats within its range.