General Information

The Brown Cuckoo-Dove is a bird in the genus Macropygia. It is also known by the names of "Brown Pigeon", "Pheasant Pigeon" and "Cockoo Dove".  The name "Cuckoo dove"refers to the shape of the animal's elegant, long tailed shape.

Physical Description

The pigeon ranges from 16 to 17.2 in. in length. Its feathers are a rich rusty-brown color. There is a pale streak below the blue-grey eye and a red eye-ring. The male tends to have a slight rose green color on their necks, and the female has a brighter chestnut cap and scaly pattern on the breast. Both of their legs and feet are red. The cuckoo has a very long tail and short wings. Their flight is strong and graceful, usually low among the trees.

Diet

The pigeons can often be seen in pairs or groups. Its diet consists of fruits, berries, and trees from a variety of rainforest plants and introduced weed species. It eats mainly small fruits, of plants including Bleeding Heart, Celerywood and Wild Tobacco.

Habitat

The Brown Cuckoo-dove inhabits rainforest edges, scrubs and re-growth areas. Generally, they can be found in open places of low vegetation but can also reside in thick rainforests and in the highlands. They can be nomadic, depending on the supplies of food and have been seen in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Philippines. They tend to fly short distances but stay locally to find fruit.

Reproduction

Breeding occurs in spring and summer. The Cuckoo-doves nest in rainforest trees and shrubs. The nest is a flat platform of sticks and vines, either in the fork of a tree or on top of a low tree. The female lays one creamy, white egg and both parents help with incubation until hatching.