Nilgiri wood pigeon

Columba palumboides

The Nilgiri wood pigeon (Columba palumboides) is a large, ground-dwelling pigeon found in the Western Ghats of southwestern India. It is characterized by its striking plumage, with a deep blue-grey head, neck, and upper breast, contrasting with a white lower breast and belly. The species is known for its distinctive cooing call, which is often heard in the dense evergreen and shola forests where it resides. Nilgiri wood pigeons primarily feed on fruits and seeds, and they play a crucial role in seed dispersal within their habitat. Due to habitat loss and hunting, the conservation status of the Nilgiri wood pigeon is currently listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

Habitat: Evergreen and shola forests of the Western Ghats