Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon

Doi Inthanon National Park was the only place on the tour where we saw the attractive Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon Treron sphenurus. Twenty five birds of this species were seen on two separate occasions. This photograph was taken in the early morning sunlight at a mid-elevation site on the mountain road. The site had a number of fruiting bushes and trees which attracted the pigeons. Several of the key features of the species can be seen on this adult male bird: yellow head, breast and belly, the belly having a faint apricot wash; maroon lesser coverts and blue base to the bill.

Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon is found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is a widespread species which ranges across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is a frugivore, taking a variety of fruits and berries, including figs and mulberries.

There are 5 subspecies and the most likely in this region is T. s. sphenurus found in mountains and foothills of Kashmir E to SC China (SW Sichuan, W & S Yunnan, W Guangxi), and S to S Myanmar (Tenasserim), N Thailand, Laos and N Vietnam. It is generally resident, with local nomadic or altitudinal migratory movements and is not globally threatened. It is common in Himalayan foothills and uncommon to locally common in Thailand, where it is considered to be the commonest green pigeon in hill forests.

Reference: Thai National Parks; HBW Alive