Japanese Wood Pigeon

Characteristics

An endemic subspecies of Japanese wood pigeon that inhabits the Ogasawara Islands. The body is black, but the head is brown to pink and the neck is green to purple. In the Ogasawara Islands, it is nicknamed "Akapoppo". As a result of being preyed on by cats and mice brought in by humans, the number of inhabitants has drastically decreased to about several dozen birds, and extinction is feared. It is designated as an endangered species IA in the 4th Red List of the Ministry of the Environment.

Ecology

Inhabits gloomy evergreen broad-leaved forests, and looks for food such as plants and fruits on the ground. It moves between the Ogasawara archipelago by flapping its wings slowly and flying. From October to March, they build nests in colonies of Tako Cranes on the ground and breed. No other detailed ecology is known.

Habitat

I met him on the forest road going down to Hatsuneura on Chichijima Island in the Ogasawara Islands. When I went down the long slope, I saw a large black bird standing on the forest road. When I flapped my wings a little and jumped to the top of the tree, it stopped moving, so I was able to observe it well. The forest was dark, so I didn't feel red enough to be called "red poppo", but the color from head to neck was unique. It was relatively easy to find because it was black and walked slowly, and I saw it several times in the woods after that.