White-bellied Green Pigeon

The white-bellied green pigeon is a compact pigeon 33–36 cm long. Both sexes are predominantly green with olive wings, a pale to white belly and a short dark-green tail with blackish sides. Males have a brighter yellow-green head and breast and a vivid maroon shoulder patch; females are duller and lack the strong maroon panel. A pale bluish bill, blue eye-ring and pinkish-violet iris add useful close-range marks (Wikipedia, general species account; Cornell Lab eBird species account).

It occurs from Japan and Taiwan through eastern and southern China to northern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. The species favours deciduous and mixed forest, particularly mature or primary woodland, but also uses forest edge from lowlands to about 1,400 metres. Most populations are resident or make local movements, while northern Japanese birds migrate. Flocks gather in fruiting trees and may visit coastlines to drink salt water, probably in connection with their fruit-rich diet (Wikipedia, general species account; Cornell Lab eBird species account).