ShermanGraham8 at 12:29, 6 March 2026

2026-03-06T12:29:43Z

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{{Short description|Bird species}}
{{Redirect|Emerald dove|other species and the emerald dove genus|Chalcophaps}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Common emerald dove
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Chalcophaps indica'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T22725538A94895385 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22725538A94895385.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = Asian Emerald Dove 0A2A7379.jpg
| image_caption =
| genus = Chalcophaps
| species = indica
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision = See text
| synonyms = ''Columba indica'' {{small|Linnaeus, 1758}}
}}

The '''emerald dove''' or '''common emerald dove''' ('''''Chalcophaps indica'''''), also called '''Asian emerald dove''' and '''grey-capped emerald dove''', is a widespread resident breeding [[Columbidae|pigeon]] native to the tropical and subtropical parts of the [[Indian subcontinent]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. The dove is also known by the names of '''green dove''' and '''green-winged pigeon'''. The common emerald dove is the state bird of the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. The [[Pacific emerald dove]] and [[Stephan's emerald dove]] were both considered [[conspecific]].

==Taxonomy==
In 1743, the English naturalist [[George Edwards (naturalist)|George Edwards]] included a picture and a description of the common emerald dove in his ''A Natural History of Uncommon Birds''. He used the English name "Green Wing'd Dove". His drawing was made from a live bird at the home a merchant in [[Rotherhithe]] near London. Edwards was told that the dove had come from the [[East Indies]].<ref>{{ cite book | last=Edwards | first=George | author-link=George Edwards (naturalist) | year=1743 | title=A Natural History of Uncommon Birds | volume=Part I & II | place=London | publisher=Printed for the author, at the College of Physicians | page=14, Plate 14 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50240534 }}</ref> When in 1758 the Swedish naturalist [[Carl Linnaeus]] updated his ''[[Systema Naturae]]'' for the [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|tenth edition]], he placed the common emerald dove with all the other pigeons in the [[genus]] ''[[Columba (genus)|Columba]]''. Linnaeus included a brief description, coined the [[binomial name]] ''Columba indica'' and cited Edwards's work.<ref>{{cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=Carl | author-link=Carl Linnaeus | year=1758 | title= Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis | volume= 1 | edition=10th | page=164 | publisher=Holmiae:Laurentii Salvii | language=la | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/727071 }}</ref> The [[specific epithet]] ''indica'' is Latin for "Indian" and is used by Linnaeus to denote the [[East Indies]].<ref>{{cite book | last=Jobling | first=James A. | year=2010| title=The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | publisher=Christopher Helm | location=London | isbn=978-1-4081-2501-4 | page=204 }}</ref> The species is now placed in the genus ''[[Chalcophaps]]'' that was introduced by the English ornithologist [[John Gould]] in 1843.<ref>{{ cite book | last=Gould | first=John | author-link=John Gould | year=1843 | title=The Birds of Australia | publisher=self published | place=London | volume= 5 | at=Plate 62 and text | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48401179 }}</ref><ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | year=2020 | title=Pigeons | work=IOC World Bird List Version 10.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/pigeons/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=18 March 2020 }}</ref>

Six [[subspecies]] are recognised:<ref name=ioc/>
* ''C. i. indica'' ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758) – India to south China, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesian and west Papuan islands
* ''C. i. robinsoni'' [[E. C. Stuart Baker|Baker, ECS]], 1928 – Sri Lanka
* ''C. i. maxima'' [[Ernst Hartert|Hartert]], 1931 – [[Andaman Islands]]
* ''C. i. augusta'' [[Charles Lucien Bonaparte|Bonaparte]], 1855 – [[Nicobar Islands]]
* ''C. i. natalis'' [[Joseph Jackson Lister (naturalist)|Lister]], 1889 – [[Christmas Island]] (Indian Ocean)
* ''C. i. minima'' Hartert, 1931 – [[Numfor]], [[Biak]] and [[Mios Num]] islands (off north New Guinea)

== Description ==
[[File:Common Emerald Dove.jpg|thumb|Male emerald dove]]
[[File:Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica indica).jpg|thumb|Emerald dove in Sime Forest, Singapore]]
The common emerald dove is a stocky, medium-sized pigeon, typically {{cvt|23-27|cm}} in length.<ref name=hbw>{{cite web | last1=Baptista | first1=L.F. | last2=Trail | first2=P.W. | last3=Horblit | first3=H.M. | last4=Kirwan | first4=G.M. | last5=Garcia | first5=E.F.J. | last6=Boesman | first6=P. | year=2020 | title=Grey-capped Emerald Dove (''Chalcophaps indica'') | editor1-last=del Hoyo | editor1-first=J. | editor2-last=Elliott | editor2-first=A. | editor3-last=Sargatal | editor3-first=J. | editor4-last=Christie | editor4-first=D.A. | editor5-last=de Juana | editor5-first=E. | work=Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive | publisher=Lynx Edicions | url=https://www.hbw.com/node/54186 | access-date=18 March 2020 | url-access=subscription }}</ref> The back and wings are bright emerald green. The flight [[feather]]s and tail are blackish, and broad black and white bars show on the lower back in flight. The head and underparts are dark vinous pink, fading to greyish on the lower belly. The eyes are dark brown, the bill bright red and legs and feet rufous.
The male has a white patch on the edge of the shoulders and a grey crown, which the female lacks. Females will tend to have a browner complexion with a grey mark on the shoulder. Immature birds resemble females but have brown scallops on their body and wing plumage.

== Distribution and habitat ==
This is a common species in [[tropical forest]]s and similar dense wet [[woodland]]s, [[farm]]s and [[mangrove]]s.<ref name=hbw/><ref name=rasmussen>{{ cite book | last1=Rasmussen | first1=Pamela C. | author1-link=Pamela C. Rasmussen | last2=Anderton | first2=John C. | year=2012 | title=Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide | volume= 2 | edition=2nd | publisher=Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and Lynx Edicions | place=Washington D.C. and Barcelona | isbn=978-84-96553-87-3 | pages=211–212 }}</ref> It builds a scant stick [[Bird nest|nest]] in a [[tree]] up to five metres and lays two cream-coloured [[bird egg|egg]]s.

== Behaviour and ecology ==
[[File:Asian Emerald Dove.jpg|thumb|In flight at [[Chitwan National Park]], [[Nepal]].]]
The call of the common emerald dove is a low soft moaning cooing consisting of about six to seven coos, starting quietly and rising. It also calls a nasal "hoo-hoo-hoon". Males perform a bobbing dance during [[courtship display]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brown, J. |author-link=Jennifer Brown (author) |title=Husbandry Guidelines For the Emerald Dove ''Chalcophaps indica'' |publisher=[[Western Sydney Institute of TAFE]] |date=2010 |edition= |issue=2}}</ref>
It is either single, or occurs in pairs or in small groups.{{cn|date=March 2026}} It searches for fallen [[fruit]] on the ground and spends little time in trees except when roosting. It eats [[seed]]s and fruits of a wide variety of [[plant]]s and is generally tame and approachable.
Its flight is fast and direct, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the [[wing]]s which are characteristic of pigeons in general. It often flies low between patches of dense forest, but when disturbed, it frequently walks away. It is a particularly good weaver when flying through [[forest]]s.{{cn|date=March 2026}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* Grimmett, ''Birds of India'', Inskipp and Inskipp, {{ISBN|0-691-04910-6}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Chalcophaps indica}}
{{Wikispecies|Chalcophaps indica}}
* [https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Chalcophaps-indica Xeno-canto: audio recordings of the common emerald dove]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q795565}}

[[Category:Chalcophaps|common emerald dove]]
[[Category:Birds of Indomalaya]]
[[Category:Birds of Taiwan]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1758|common emerald dove]]
[[Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus|common emerald dove]]

Common emerald dove - Revision history

ShermanGraham8 at 12:29, 6 March 2026