Emerald dove races in Australia / Low Isles

["Mike Carter" <>]

I know of no evidence of the occurrence of any northern hemisphere Emerald 
Dove in Australia. Moreover, the existence of that race is not recognised by 
Gibbs et al. (2001) in 'Pigeons & Doves of the World', Pica Press. 
Apparently the nominate race Calcophaps indica occurs on the Japanese island 
of Yaeyama and until recently that would be the species but not the race 
occurring on the Low Isles which would have been C. i. chrysochlora . 
Nowadays, the taxa would be considered as different species, the Japanese 
bird called Common Emerald Dove C. indica which occurs only on Christmas 
Island in Australia, whilst the Low Isles birds are Pacific Emerald Dove C. 
longirostris.
So the link with Japan (JAMBA) is because of the Christmas Island birds at a 
specific not subspecific level.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza  VIC 3930
Tel  (03) 9787 7136