Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has undergone a considerable decline in numbers over the last century. It now has a small population, fragmented across several islands and likely to be in decline owing to forest loss and predation by introduced mammals. For these reasons it is classified as Vulnerable.
Population justification
Given the low encounter rates, the population is estimated to be in the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals. While occasionally seen in lowland coastal forest on Makira, it was most frequently seen in hill forest between 400 and 600 m altitude in the Bauro area (Mittermeier et al. in prep.).
Trend justification
Buchanan et al. (2008) calculated the rate of forest loss within the species's range on New Britain as 19% over three generations. Less detailed analysis is available for later years but about 2.2% of forest was lost plus 5.2% degraded across New Britain between 2002 and 2014 (Bryan and Shearman 2015). There is no comparative analysis of forest loss in the Solomon Islands but a large proportion of accessible forest has been logged and is under logging concessions (e.g. Katovai et al. 2015). However, the species is also threatened by introduced predators and hunting pressure, thus a decline of 10-20% is suspected to have occurred over the last three generations, and is expected to continue over the next three generations.
Columba pallidiceps occurs in the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. It is known from New Ireland, New Britain, Bougainville, Choiseul, Vella Lavella, Tetepare, Ndai (= Gower), Nggela (= Florida), Ramos, Guadalcanal, Makira (= San Cristobal) and possibly Duke of York and Ugi (=Uki Ni Masi) and may occur on intervening islands. It has undergone a major decline since collections in the 1870s-1930s, and is now rare. Recent records are from New Britain (one collected in the 1960s, singles seen in 1995, 1997, 2003 and 2006, including singles in Poikili and Garu Wildlife Management Areas [Gilliard and LeCroy 1967, P. Gregory in litt. 1999, H. Kaestner in litt. 1999, G. Dutson in litt. 2003, K. D. Bishop in litt. 2006]), New Ireland (one in 1984 [Finch and McKean 1987]), Guadalcanal (one in 1987 [S. Blaber in litt. 1991]) and Makira (several records since 1990 [Buckingham et al. 1995, Richards 1996, R. James in litt. 1999]) and one record on Tetepare (Read 2013). Throughout its range, notably on New Britain, many months of searching have failed to record it. On Makira, it has been seen occasionally in lowland coastal forest, and most frequently seen in hill forest between 400 and 600m altitude in the Bauro area, but no more than five birds have been seen together (Buckingham et al. 1995, Mittermeier et al. in prep.).
It has been recorded only in primary or tall secondary forest, with most records from hills up to c.650 m, but also in lowlands and one recent record at 1,300 m (Dutson 2011). It appears to be principally a subcanopy species, often seen feeding on fruiting gaivou trees at Hauta (Buckingham et al. 1995, R. James in litt. 1999), but its long stout legs suggest that it is partly terrestrial, and is thought to be partially nomadic. It is not exclusively a ground feeder, and congregates in gaiwou trees (Lauraceae, possibly a Litsea species) when they are fruiting. Between 1995 and 1996, it was common to see up to five Yellow-legged Pigeons feeding in a fruiting gaiwou tree. While occasionally seen in lowland coastal forest, it was most frequently seen in hill forest between 400 and 600 m altitude in the Bauro area. Two nests have been observed in the Bauro and Kahua areas: one at 500 m was on the ground at the base of a mararu (Geniostoma papuana) tree, another at 720 m was on the ground on a small ledge above the steep gully bed (Mittermeier et al. in prep.)
It may be particularly susceptible to predation by introduced mammals as it has been found to nest on the ground (R. James in litt. 2012, G. Dutson in litt. 2016). Although too rare to be targeted specifically by hunters, it featured within bags of mixed large pigeons hunted at Hauta (Buckingham et al. 1995, R. James in litt. 1999). All the islands within its range have suffered logging, both some of the small islands, e.g. Duke of York, which now have little or no forest, and the larger islands such as New Britain. On the latter it has been estimated that forest clearance for oil palm production has caused the loss of c.20% of suitable habitat for this species in the last 15 years (Buchanan et al. 2008). Less detailed analysis is available for later years but about 2.2% of forest was lost plus 5.2% degraded across New Britain between 2002 and 2014 (Bryan and Shearman 2015). Forest is also cleared for subsistence gardens by the growing local populations.
Conservation Actions Underway
A brief project to investigate the range and ecology of this species and the impact of hunting was undertaken at Hauta, Makira. The Hauta area was subject to a community conservation and development programme (R. James in litt. 1999).
36-38 cm. Large, iridescent pigeon. Largely black with green, pink and purple iridescence, and pale grey head. Rather large, rich yellow legs. Similar spp. White-throated Pigeon C. vitiensis is similarly iridescent black but with pure white throat. New Britain Bronzewing Henicophaps foersteri is brownish with iridescence only on wing-coverts and white throat. Chestnut-bellied Imperial-Pigeon Ducula brenchleyi has vinaceous underparts and pale grey restricted to cap. Voice Unknown. Hints Arrange a visit to Hauta through their ecotourism initiative and ask about recent sightings of this nomadic species.
Text account compilers
Derhé, M., Dutson, G., Mahood, S., O'Brien, A. & Stattersfield, A.
Contributors
Bishop, K., Blaber, S., Gregory, P., James, R. & Kaestner, P.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Yellow-legged Pigeon Columba pallidiceps. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/yellow-legged-pigeon-columba-pallidiceps on 23/12/2024.
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 23/12/2024.