Pale-capped Pigeon
Columba punicea
- Family
- Doves and Pigeons (Columbidae)
- Order
- Columbiformes
Overview
The pale-capped pigeon (Columba punicea), also known as the purple wood pigeon, is a species of large pigeon that is found patchily distributed in parts of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It has a slow flight and spends a lot of time sitting still in the foliage of large fruiting trees, often in riverine forest on the plains. It is mainly brown above and chestnut below with the a sheen of green or amethyst. Males have a whitish grey cap while females have a brownish grey cap and less gloss on the feathers.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Southern Tibet to eastern India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Hainan (off southern China).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Pale-capped pigeon
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
