Green Pigeon : A Pleasant Bird
Yellow - footed Green Pigeon
# Sometimes it so happens that we click photos inadvertently and later on realize their importance during review. The same thing happened when we clicked few birds swinging on the tree top in the backdrop of rising sun. After analyzing these pics, we identified them as a type of ‘Green Pigeon’ particularly known as ‘Yellow – footed Green Pigeon’. It was a rare sight of such a beautiful creation of God which filled us with joy.
# Out of various types of Green Pigeon, some of them found in India are Orange –breasted Green Pigeon, Grey-fronted Green Pigeon, Andaman Green Pigeon, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Pin - tailed Green Pigeon, Wedge - tailed Green Pigeon, Emerald Dove, Nicobar Pigeon and Yellow-footed Green Pigeon.
# The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon is widespread resident of India and found in larger part of country. This is the state bird of Maharashtra.
Salient features of Yellow-footed Green Pigeon:
· They are large in size, having grey cap, greenish – yellow forehead & throat, broad olive-yellow collar, greyish - green upperparts, grey shoulders patch, alternate yellow and black band at bottom of tail. Due to green body colour they are completely obliterated among green leaves of trees.
· Legs and feet are distinctive yellow from which it derives its name – ‘Yellow –footed Green Pigeon’.
· Normally found in small to medium flocks at top of trees. They can be sighted in deciduous forest, fruiting trees around cultivation and human habitats.
· They mainly feed on fruits, ficus and berries.
· They give a musical mellow whistling call , sometimes also a subdued gurgling.
· Its scientific name is ‘Treron phoenicopterus’ and it belongs to ‘Columbidae’ family.
· Its Hindi name is ‘ हरियल (Hariyal)’.
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
Other types of Green Pigeon found in India
*All photos clicked at Kolkata & Kanpur.
# Now-a-days it is rare to sight group of green pigeons around human habitats. As they camouflage themselves within leaves, identifying these birds are difficult. But once visible, it fills viewers with joy and satisfaction.
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