Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (Columba elphinstonii)

Category: Environment & Biodiversity | GS Paper III

SEO Title: Nilgiri Wood Pigeon: Western Ghats Habitat, IUCN Status and Conservation

UPSC Notes

The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon is a large forest-dwelling bird endemic to the Western Ghats and surrounding hill ranges of southern India.

  • Scientific name: Columba elphinstonii.

  • Distribution: Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, particularly the Western Ghats.

  • Identification: Chequered black-and-white patch on the nape, dark grey-brown body and chestnut back.

  • Habitat: Evergreen forests and shola forests.

  • Diet: Fruits.

  • Ecological role: Helps disperse seeds and supports forest regeneration.

  • IUCN status: Vulnerable, according to the source.

  • Threats: Habitat destruction, plantation expansion and hunting.

  • Regional significance: The Western Ghats is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a global biodiversity hotspot.

Key Pointers for Prelims

  • Endemic to the Western Ghats.

  • IUCN category: Vulnerable.

  • Ecological role: Seed dispersal.

  • Habitat: Evergreen and shola forests.