Pale-Capped Pigeon

July 21, 2025

In a significant sighting for birdwatchers and conservationists alike, the elusive Pale-capped Pigeon was recently photographed in Dehing Patkai National Park in Assam.

About Pale-Capped Pigeon:

  • The pale-capped pigeon, also known as the purple wood pigeon, is a large, dark purplish-maroon bird that is found in parts of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
  • Scientific Name: Columba punicea
  • Distribution: It is very locally distributed across its broad range, which encompasses parts of northern and northeastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
  • Habitat:
    • It largely inhabits forest habitats, chiefly, primary or secondary evergreen forests, and bamboo and agricultural fields in close proximity to forests.
    • Its range extends from the lowlands up to 1,600 m.
  • Features:
    • It is mainly brown above and chestnut below with a sheen of green or amethyst.
    • Males have a whitish-grey-cap while females have a brownish-grey-cap and less gloss on the feathers.
    • They are frugivores, foraging in small groups in the canopy of trees but sometimes descending to the ground for seeds and fallen fruit.
  • Conservation Status:
    • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

Key Facts about Dehing Patkai National Park:

  • It is located in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam.
  • It is situated at the foothills of the Patkai Hill Ranges, on the banks of the River Dehing (a tributary of Brahmaputra), and adjacent to the Namdapha Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Also known as the ‘Amazon of the East’, it harbours the longest stretch of tropical lowland rainforests in India.
  • It covers an area of 231.65 sq.km.
  • The climate of the region is mostly tropical, with an annual rainfall of more than 4,000 mm.
  • There are more than a dozen different ethnic groups living in the area, including the indigenous Assamese communities, particularly Tai Phake, Khamyang, Khampti, Singpho, Nocte, Ahom, Kaibarta, Moran, and Motok, Burmese, and non-indigenous Nepali people.
  • Vegetation: The park is a deciduous rainforest with semi-evergreen and lush green flora.
  • Flora: It is dominated by species like Hollong, Nahor, Mekai, Paroli, Simul, various orchids, ferns, cane, and bamboo.
  • Fauna: The rich biodiversity includes diverse species such as slow loris, pig-tailed macaque, stump-tailed macaque, capped langur, Indian leopard, Asian elephant, royal Bengal tiger, gaur, Himalayan black bear, clouded leopard, barking deer, Chinese pangolin, etc.

Latest Current Affairs

See All

Enquire Now