• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species is listed as Near Threatened because remote sensing has revealed that a considerable amount of the lowland forest on which this species depends has been converted to oil palm plantation. This deforestation is ongoing and this species is thought to be undergoing a moderately rapid population reduction.

Population justification
The population is estimated to be in the band 10,000-19,999 mature individuals, equating to 15,000-29,999 individuals in total, rounded here to 15,000-30,000 individuals.

Trend justification
Buchanan et al. (2008) calculated the rate of forest loss within the species's range on New Britain as 18% over three generations. It is precautionarily placed in the band for a 20-29% decline, since it may also be subject to hunting.

Ducula finschii is endemic to the islands of New Britain, New Ireland, New Hanover, Lavongai, Umboi and Watom in the Bismarck Archipelago Papua New Guinea where although it has been considered very scarce, it is rather poorly known, it appears to be widely distributed and not uncommon in suitable habitat, i.e. old-growth forest in hills. It is suspected to have declined rapidly in recent years owing to ongoing clearance of lowland forest (Buchanan et al. 2008).

It inhabits old-growth lowland and hill forest up to 1,500 m, especially between 200-900 m. It has been observed in partially logged areas but its tolerance of habitat degradation is poorly known.

On New Britain, lowland forest clearance for conversion to oil palm plantations has been intense in recent decades and the island accounts for approximately half of Papua New Guinea's timber exports (Buchanan et al. 2008). On that island nearly 20% of habitat suitable for this species has been cleared in the last 10 years and this trend is ongoing (Buchanan et al. 2008). This situation is likely to be similar on other islands in the region. It may also be subject to hunting, although this is unconfirmed.

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Identify and effectively protect a network of reserves, including some containing large areas of unlogged lowland forest and some large community based conservation areas. Continue to monitor trends in forest loss. Research its tolerance of degraded forest. Research the extent (if any) and affect of hunting on populations. Monitor populations in a number of primary forest and degraded forest sites on the islands.

36cm. Medium-sized pigeon with largely greyish head (male with salmon-pink tint to face and breast). Upperparts vary from bronze-green mantle turning to emerald-green rump and wing coverts and deep bluish-black primaries and tail. Grey-washed breast and rufous underparts. Distinctive tail pattern of pale greyish (female) or whitish (male) subterminal band and narrower green terminal band. Reddish legs and iris with blackish bill. Voice A long deep tremulous vrrrRRRRoooo, falling then rising in pitch, and trailing off in volume. Often preceded by one or two short gruff wra notes.

Text account compilers
Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J., Mahood, S.

Contributors
Wilkinson, R., Bishop, K.D., Beehler, B., Dutson, G.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Finsch's Imperial-pigeon Ducula finschii. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/finschs-imperial-pigeon-ducula-finschii on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.