|
|
Black-banded Fruit-Dove
(Ptilinopus alligator)
: "Banded Fruit-Dove"
Size: 38-44 cm
Weight: 450-570 g
|
|
 |
Similar species |
|
 |
Physical description |
|
Click here for a physical description
Black-banded Fruit-Doves are big pigeons.
Their plumage
is almost all black-and white. The head, neck and upper chest
are white, ending in a black band across the lower chest that
connects with the slate-grey back and wings. Only the rump and the
tip of the uppertail are white. From the black chest band, the
lower half of the underparts shows various graduations of grey,
from dark near the chest band to light-grey on the undertail
coverts.
The bill is yellowish, the irises are reddish-brown, while
the legs and feet are dark greyish-pink.
Juveniles
have less colour contrast than
adults,
some scalloping on the dark upperparts, a grey bill and dark
irises.
 |
Twitcher's tip |
|
Compared to
Torresian Imperial-Pigeon,
the Black-banded Fruit-Dove shows a lot more black in its
plumage.
|
 |
Taxonomy, classification |
|
See Black-banded
Fruit-Dove at Wikipedia .
Click here for classification information
The Black-banded Fruit-Dove has now been given species status and is
no longer considered to be a race of the Banded Fruit-Dove
(Ptilinopus cinctus).
|
 |
Range, habitat, finding this species |
|
Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Banded Fruit-Dove
is available HERE
.
Black-banded Fruit-Doves endemic to the Arnhem Land Plateau in the
interior of the Top End of the NT, with a limited range extending
from Kakadu NP
to West Arnhemland.
Black-banded Fruit-Doves specialize in living along sandstone
escarpments,
searching for fruit, in particular native figs, in monsoonal
forest and
riparian vegetation along
creek beds.
|
 |
Sightings |
|
Click here for sighting information
M. Eaton found Black-banded Fruit-Doves at Nourlangie,
Kakadu NP,
NT, in July 2020, and again in June 2023.
P. Brown reports spotting a Black-banded Fruit-Dove at Ubirr,
Kakadu NP,
NT, in July 2020.
|
 |
Photos |
|
 |
ADULT |
|
Near-frontal view of an adult Black-banded Fruit-Dove
looking towards the observer
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, June 2023]
Near-frontal view of an adult Black-banded Fruit-Dove
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, July 2020]
Near-lateral view of a Black-banded Fruit-Dove
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, July 2020]
Lateral view of a Black-banded Fruit-Dove
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, July 2020]
Lateral view of a Black-banded Fruit-Dove
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, June 2023]
Near-dorsal view of a Black-banded Fruit-Dove
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, June 2023]
Partly obscured near-dorsal view of a Black-banded Fruit-Dove
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, November 2020]
 |
Food, Diet |
|
Lateral view of a Black-banded Fruit-Dove taking a fruit
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, July 2020]
 |
Call(s)/Song |
|
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
More Black-banded Fruit-Dove sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.