Pied Imperial Pigeon

The pied imperial pigeon is a robust, large pigeon with predominantly white plumage sharply trimmed in black. The flight feathers and most of the tail are dark, contrasting with the white head, body, thighs and undertail coverts; its bluish bill has a narrow dark tip. This plain white undertail helps separate it from closely related imperial pigeons that show dark spotting, while yellow-tinged or silver-winged relatives differ in overall tone and wing pattern (Wikipedia, general species account; Cornell Lab eBird species account).

It ranges from Myanmar and Thailand through maritime Southeast Asia to the Philippines and western New Guinea. Birds favour coastal forest, mangroves, woodland, plantations and scrub, especially on small offshore islands. Gregarious flocks often perch conspicuously on exposed branches or wires, commute to mainland fruiting trees to feed, and return to island roosts. Its song is a very low series of booming notes, initially loud and then fading, that can carry through coastal woodland (Wikipedia, general species account; Cornell Lab eBird species account).