Nilgiri Wood Pigeon

Nilgiri Wood Pigeon Latest News

A recent research paper warns that climate change could lead to the habitat of Western Ghats endemic species such as the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) and become limited to a few isolated pockets by the end of the century.

About Nilgiri Wood Pigeon

• It is a species of pigeon endemic to the Western Ghats in India.
• Appearance: They are best identified in the field by their large size, dark colours and the distinctive checkerboard pattern on their nape.
• Habitat: It inhabits high-elevation wet evergreen forest, moist evergreen 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.
• Distribution: It is mainly found in regions such as the Nilgiris and Anamalai Hills in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Isolated populations are also reported from locations such as the Biligirirangan Hills, Nandi Hills, and northern Maharashtra.
• Diet: They are mainly frugivorous and forage in the canopy of dense hill forests.
• Threats: These are threatened by hunting, deforestation, agricultural and infrastructure expansion, plantation development and climate change.

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Conservation Status of Nilgiri Wood Pigeon

• IUCN: Least Concern
• Wild Life Protection Act: Schedule-I

Source: TH