Ducula geelvinkiana (Schlegel, 1873)

Bishop, K. David, 2023, The avifauna of Biak Island, Papua, Indonesia with comments on status, conservation, natural history and taxonomy, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 143 (1), pp. 3-62 : 21

GEELVINK IMPERIAL PIGEON Ducula geelvinkiana # RR

Local names Man Béyorèn, Man Kankuw (Sansundi).

Range Biak, Supiori, Rani, Numfor and Mios Num.

Status Teluk Cenderawasih endemic species. During 1937 Ripley found it to be very common in mangroves on Biak, but did not see it above 500 m ( Mayr & Meyer de Schauensee 1939). Rand & Gilliard (1967) noted the species as very common in second growth and primary forest on Biak. In 1982 KDB heard and saw it commonly in coastal and lowland forests to at least 350 m on Supiori. Thereafter most visitors have found the species widespread and common. However, since c.2000 it has become noticeably less numerous such that it is now shy and scarce, and recorded in just ones and twos. The decline is probably attributable to hunting and loss of tall forest. 6 August 2015: two on Rani (N. Voaden, eBird checklist S24512191).

Voice Woxvold & Bishop (2020) provided Biak sound-recordings of the advertising song and guttural call notes.