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Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula spilorrhoa) Alternate name(s): "Australian Pied Imperial-Pigeon", "Torres Strait Pigeon", "(White) Nutmeg Pigeon" Aboriginal name(s): "ruguju" [ngadjon], "nyungu" Size: 38-44 cm; wing span ca. 45 cm Body mass: 380-550 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.40-0.45

Australia: Family Group 11 Family Group 11 Table White-headed Pigeon Pied Imperial Pigeon Topknot Pigeon Crested Pigeon Spinifex Pigeon Flock Bronzewing Common Bronzewing Brush Bronzewing Squatter Pigeon Partridge Pigeon White-quilled Rock-Pigeon Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon Black-Banded Fruit-Dove Wompoo Fruit-Dove Superb Fruit Dove Rose-crowned Fruit Dove Pacific Emerald Dove Nicobar Pigeon Brown Cuckoo-Dove Wonga Pigeon Peaceful Dove Diamond Dove Bar-shouldered Dove Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Torresian Imperial-Pigeons are big pigeons. Their plumage is almost all-white, except the tips of the wings, a terminal band on the tail and barring on the undertail (which are all black). The eyes are black, the bill is yellowish-green and the legs and feet are grey. Twitcher's tip Compared to White-headed Pigeons, the Torresian Imperial-Pigeon does not have an eye ring and has much lighter-coloured wings and tail.

Taxonomy, classification See Torresian Imperial-Pigeon at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information Torresian Imperial-Pigeons, Ducula spilorrhoa, have now been given species status and are no longer considered to be a race of the Pied Imperial-Pigeon, Ducula bicolor.

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 Torresian Imperial-Pigeon is available HERE . The range of the Torresian Imperial-Pigeons extends from northern and eastern coastal Australia, via the Torres Strait, to New Guinea, eastern Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. In Australia Torresian Imperial-Pigeons are found on several islands along the Torres Strait and along the tropical North coast and the tropical and subtropical East coast of the continent. They migrate from the North to an area from about Derby, WA, in the West to Yeppoon, QLD (the tropic of Capricorn), in the East. They breed primarily along the East coast of Cape York peninsula, but their range is expanding, with birds now found as far to the South as Sydney, NSW. Torresian Imperial-Pigeons are found in a variety of habitats, e.g. coastal rainforest, mangroves and commercial plantations.

Sightings Click here for sighting information B. Hensen reports spotting a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon at Tiwi Park, NT, in May 2013 and in Darwin, NT, in August 2013. We first spotted Torresian Imperial-Pigeons in various locations in and around Darwin, NT, in August 2014. They were also seen in the same area by H. Mouritsen in October 2015. J. Greaves reports spotting a pair of Torresian Imperial-Pigeons at Alyangula, Groote Eylandt, NT, in September 2014. D. Wilczynska reports seeing a group of Torresian Imperial-Pigeons in Cairns, QLD, in March 2015. P. Brown reports spotting Torresian Imperial-Pigeons regularly in and around Darwin, NT. A pair was found nesting at Marlow Lagoon, Palmerston, NT, in November 2020. M. Eaton found Torresian Imperial-Pigeons at Cattana Wetlands, Cairns, QLD, in November/December 2018, and a pair at Mission Beach, QLD, in September 2020. Others were found along the Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, in October 2024.

Photos

ADULT

PAIR

Lateral/ventral view of a pair of Torresian Imperial-Pigeons roosting high up in a tree
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

MALE

Frontal view of a male Torresian Imperial-Pigeon "cooing" for its partner; the sex was determined based on behaviour, not by outward appearance (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, May 2013]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Frontal/ventral view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Palmerston Golf Course, Palmerston, NT, July 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, September 2017]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, October 2024]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mission Beach, QLD, September 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a roosting Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cattana Wetlands, Cairns, QLD, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cattana Wetlands, Cairns, QLD, November 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Tiwi Island, NT, August 2013]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Tiwi Island, NT, August 2013]

Dorsal view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Distant lateral/ventral view in mellow light of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon in flight
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Jan

Eggs: 1

Incubation period: 26 - 28 days

Fledging age: 21 - 28 days

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Rudimentary basket

Material: Sticks, twigs

Height above ground: 1 - 10 m

Nests can be placed as low as 1 m from the ground in mangrove, but will be higher in rainforest.

Close-up frontal view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, October 2024]

Frontal view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon on its nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marlow Lagoon, Palmerston, NT, November 2020]

Frontal view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mission Beach, QLD, September 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cattana Wetlands, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 45 x 31 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Partially migratory

Elementary unit: Pair/covey/flock

Most Torresian Imperial Pigeons are breeding migrants to northern Australia from the North. Part of the population along the northern coastal fringe of WA may be sedentary or locally nomadic.

Frontal view of a male Torresian Imperial-Pigeon "cooing" for his partner (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, May 2013]

Food, Diet

Torresian Imperial-Pigeon feeding on the fruit of a Carpentaria Palm (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, September 2017]

Lateral view of a Torresian Imperial-Pigeon feeding on fruit (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Tiwi Island, NT, August 2013]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

Doves and pigeons do not, like other birds, open their bills when calling, but they rather "hum" through their noses, with the bill closed.

piedimp_20140817.m4a	spilorrhoa (Top End, NT)	Contact call (+ Little Corella)	© MD
piedimp_20140817_NR.m4a	spilorrhoa (Top End, NT)	Contact call	© MD
piedimp_pb_20230924.m4a	spilorrhoa (Darwin, NT)	Contact calls (+ Sacred Kingfisher)	© PB
piedimp_pb_20200415_2.m4a	spilorrhoa (Darwin, NT)	Going to roost	© PB
piedimp_pb_20200415_3a.m4a	spilorrhoa (Darwin, NT)	Going to roost	© PB

More Torresian Imperial-Pigeon 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.

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