Emerald Dove (chalcophaps indica)
Order: COLUMBIFORMES
Family: COLUMBIDAE Doves, Pigeons
Scientific name: chalcophaps indica
English name: Emerald Dove
Characteristic: Size 25 cm. Small-sized dove; upperpart glossy green; face and underpart reddish brown; beak and legs bright red; rump dark with 2 whitish bands. A male is more bright in plumage colour than a female; he possesses silvery grey head; pale forehead and eyebrows; and light brown crown and nape.
Distribution: India, Southern China, Sotheast Asia, Hainan, Taiwan, the Andamans, the Nicobars, the Philippines, the Sundas and Australia.
Habitat: Mixed deciduous forest, dry dipterocarp forest, evergreen forest, from the plain to the altitude of 1,500 m. In Sakaerat forest, this dove is found in the dry diperocarp forest, dry evergreen forest, forest plantation, and grass field among dry dipterocarp forest.
Habit: Oftenly observed singly or in pairs along forest roads or near the forest streams, especially those moist and shady forest patches. Its favorite diet includes plant seeds, cereal grain, fallen fruits, sometimes taking insects and termites on the ground. Breeds in April to June. Nest is simply built of twigs overlaid between tree fork or directly on branch, in which a clutch of 2 cream-coloured eggs will be laid. the incubation period lasts about 13 days.
Status: This dove is a resident bird, that is quite common in the Sakaerat area. It is also legally a protected wild animal.
