Hello Mike, Frank & everyone else, Sorry for my late input & I'm not sure if
this Pied/Torresian Imperial Pigeon discussion has been taken off-list, but I
suspect it has. I would like to add the following commnets: Here in Cairns from
my own observations, it has to be said that a very many individuals of
Torresian Imperial Pigeon have indeed a rather rich lemon-yellow belly, vent &
undertail, complete with various black markings from the vent down.They even
have this pale golden colour showing on the underside of wings including the
coverts, & this can be seen quite clearly at times also showing on the
upperside of the wings, especially close to the body on the secondaries. I must
say that this yellow plumage, in my own humble opinion, is not dealt with
correctly in HANZAB. I have my own images of such individuals & they are adult
birds. Anyone is welcome to see these pics. I hope that this does add, somewhat
belatedly, to Mike & Frank's on-line discussion re "orange" vents i
n the Kimberley... Cheers for now, Martin Cachard, Cairns, 0428 782 808
> From:
> To: ;
> Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2012 14:03:54 +1000
> CC: ; ;
> ;
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] IOC 3.1 Pied/Torresian Imperial Pigeon
>
> 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
>
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