Birds in Taiwan

Endemic Species

Collared Bush-Robin

Flamecrest

Formosan Magpie

Formosan Whistling-Thrush

Mikado Pheasant

Steere's Liocichla

Styan's Bulbul

Swinhoe's Pheasant

Taiwan Barwing

Taiwan Bush-Warbler

Taiwan Partridge

Taiwan Yuhina

White-eared Sibia

White-whiskered Laughingthrush

Yellow Tit

Endemic Sub-Species

Alpine Accentor

Black-browed Barbet

Black-naped Monarch

Black Bulbul

Black Drongo

White-bellied Green-Pigeon

White-browed Shortwing

More Birds in Taiwan

Black-faced Spoonbill

Black-naped Oriole

Black-throated Tit

Black-winged Stilt

Chinese Crested Tern

Common Kingfisher

Common Moorhen

Daurian Redstart

Fairy Pitta

Gray-chinned Minivet

Gray-faced Buzzard

Whistling Green-Pigeon

Treron formosae formosae

Endemic subspecies

As indicated by its specific name formosae, the Whistling Green-Pigeon was first described from Taiwan, by Swinhoe in 1863.  The male is large (35 cm) with a dark green back, inner secondaries and tail, a lighter green throat and breast, and pale yellow vent area with dark green streaks. The outer secondaries and primaries are blackish and the hind-neck is light green, becoming gray on the upper mantle. The inner wing coverts and scapulars are purplish brown, forming a large shoulder patch.  The crown is deep golden orange, the legs and feet are red, and the bill is light blue at the base, and grayish white on the outer half.  The iris is reddish brown.  The female is similar but lacks the brown shoulder patch and golden crown.

The Whistling Green-Pigeon favors tropical lowland evergreen forests, where it feeds mainly on fruits in the canopy.  Although little information is available on the Taiwan population, on Ryuku Island it breeds from April onwards, and nests from early May.  Typically the female lays two eggs in a frail platform of sticks placed up to 3 m. above the ground.  The call of the Whistling Green-Pigeon has been described as "poh poh peh", with the last note higher pitched. 

The Whistling Green-Pigeon is considered near-threatened.  It occurs only in the Ryuku Islands, the northern Philippines and Taiwan.  The Taiwan subspecies formosae has a brighter golden-bronze crown and is smaller and brighter overall than the Ryuku Is. subspecies.  It is resident year-round, and is uncommon and local in suitable habitat.

References:  Handbook of Birds of the World Vol. 4; A Field Guide to the Birds of China  (Mackinnon and Phillipps); 100 Common Birds of Taiwan (Wild Bird Society of Taipei); N. J. Collar, “Endemic subspecies of Taiwan birds—first impressions”, in Birding ASIA, Number 2, December 2004