71)~ Sri Lanka Orange-breasted Green Pigeon ~

More about 71)~ Sri Lanka Orange-breasted Green Pigeon ~

***Sri Lanka Orange-breasted Green Pigeon - Treron pompadora ***

Short:
Endemic forest pigeon with vibrant plumage; threatened by rapid loss of rainforest habitat.

Facts:

Habitat: Wet-zone rainforests, tall forest canopies, forest edges, fruit-rich wooded areas.

Threats: Deforestation, fragmentation, loss of fruiting trees.


Details:
The Sri Lanka Orange-breasted Green Pigeon is one of the island’s most colorful and striking forest birds. It is easily recognized by its bright orange chest, soft green plumage, and contrasting yellow and olive tones. These colors help it blend beautifully into the thick rainforest canopy where it spends most of its life.

This pigeon is highly arboreal, rarely coming to the ground. It feeds almost entirely on fruits, especially figs, berries, and small forest fruits found high in the treetops. By eating fruits and spreading seeds, the species plays a crucial ecological role in maintaining healthy forest regeneration.

The Orange-breasted Green Pigeon prefers:

Tall, mature rainforest canopies

Undisturbed wet-zone forests in places like Sinharaja, Kanneliya, and Morapitiya

Large fruiting trees where flocks gather to feed


Major threats include:

Deforestation, which removes key food trees

Forest fragmentation, isolating populations

Loss of mature canopy trees due to selective logging

Human expansion, pushing pigeons into smaller patches of forest


Because it relies on old-growth forests, the species is particularly sensitive to habitat change. Conservation of wet-zone forests is essential to ensure that this beautifully colored endemic pigeon continues to thrive in Sri Lanka’s lowland rainforest ecosystems.

2025 November 24