IOC 3.1 Pied/Torresian Imperial Pigeon

["Mike Carter" <>]

The majority of Pied Imperial Pigeons have wholly white vents and undertail 
coverts whereas Torresian Imperial Pigeons have varying degrees of black 
spotting or barring in those areas. Although the Kimberley birds are a separate 
subspecies (of Torresian), no texts that I have consulted suggest that they or 
any taxon in this complex ever have an orange vent. Handbook Birds of WA says 
base of  undertail coverts are yellow but from that description and as they are 
not shown in the illustration therein, I assume are hidden in the field. 

I suppose it is more likely that the Christmas Island bird was a Pied Imperial 
Pigeon so perhaps that species should go on the Supplementary List. 

Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza  VIC 3930
Tel  (03) 9787 7136