ABOUT
About Ryukyu Whistling Green-Pigeon
About 35 cm long, somewhat larger than the White-bellied Green-Pigeon, and a year-round resident. Its whole body is a vivid green. The Japanese name, meaning "red-headed green-pigeon," comes from the reddish head of its close relative the Taiwan Whistling Green-Pigeon (Treron formosae), but this species, found on Amami Oshima and elsewhere, is green even on the head. It lives in laurel forest from lowlands to mountains and feeds in the trees on fruit and seeds, including that of Ficus erecta. It gives a distinctive shakuhachi-like call, "oo-ao, pe, hepo." It breeds around May, laying two eggs. Due to habitat fragmentation and decline, it is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
SAFETY
Observation Safety Notes
Please enjoy Amami's wildlife through photographs. Some species are protected by law or local ordinance, and capturing or removing them is prohibited. In special protection zones within the national park, collecting any wildlife is prohibited entirely. Please check the notes on this page, and confirm local rules before visiting any site.
Wild birds aren't something to catch and take home — they're best enjoyed by observing and photographing them without disturbing them. Keep a good distance, and avoid using playback calls or food to lure them in. Parent birds and chicks are especially sensitive while nesting or breeding; approaching too closely or making noise can cause the nest to be abandoned or the chicks to fail to fledge successfully. Avoid flash or strong lights when photographing at night, and don't share information online that could reveal a nest's exact location.
