Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon

"A large pigeon of foothill and lower montane forest canopy with a white head, a dark bluish-gray chest and upper back, green wings, a whitish belly with a pink tinge, and rufous under the base of the tail. Note the large red eye-ring. Somewhat similar to Mindoro imperial pigeon, but the pink-bellied has a dark neck and chest. Song is a deep, booming, upslurred "doo-dup! doo-dup!"which can be heard from a distance." It is believed that these birds are strong fliers and are capable of flying inter island.This species is monotypic but recent studies have suggested that the population on the Tawi-tawi be split into a separate species named Ducula tawitawi. This proposed species is similar to the Pink-bellied imperial but lacks a brown chin and has a slightly shorter call.

Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest and montane forest up to 1,500 m. According to the IUCN Red List and BirdLife International's Red Book, the pink-bellied imperial pigeon is classified as Near-threatened. However, The National List of Threatened Terrestrial Fauna of the Philippines has classified it as Critically Endangered.

This is due to the loss of habitat, trapping for the pet trade and hunting for food. Although it occurs quite widely within the Philippines, this species is scarce and probably has a moderately small population, which is suspected to be in moderately rapid decline owing to hunting and the removal of its favoured lowland forest habitat. This bird is extremely rare in Luzon but frequently more commonly observed in Negros Island, Mindoro, Samar and Mindanao. It was believed locally extinct on Cebu but there have been multiple reports in Alcoy since 2003. This species has been bred in captivity by Talarak Foundation in Negros. If the proposed split of the Tawi-tawi population is indeed split, that subpopulation is likely extremely endangered given the amound of deforestation in the area and the possible extinction of the Sulu bleeding-heart and the near extinction of other forest reliant species like the Sulu hornbill and Blue-winged racket-tail. …

It is a frugivore. Usually occurs singly or in small groups even with other doves such as Mindoro imperial pigeon, Metallic pigeon, Spotted imperial pigeon and Green imperial pigeon. Its flight is fast and direct, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings that are characteristic of pigeons in general. Nothing is known about its breeding habits.