About this stamp
IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU)
The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List owing to its small and declining population, primarily caused by large-scale loss and fragmentation of its forest habitat. Species under this category face a high risk of endangerment in the wild.
Habitat and Distribution
This species is endemic to the Western Ghats of south-west India and is found across:
- North-west Maharashtra
- Goa
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Western Tamil Nadu
It is largely restricted to moist evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, including densely wooded ravines and shola forests. It inhabits:
- Mountainous regions and foothills up to 2,250 metres
- Occasionally lowland forests down to 20 metres
Though suitable habitat exists across the Western Ghats, it is not present in all forest patches, indicating possible overestimation of its range.
Physical Characteristics
The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon is a large and strikingly coloured pigeon, recognised by:
- Chestnut-maroon upperparts
- Greyish head and underparts
- Distinctive black-and-white chequered hindneck
- Uniform dark slaty tail
Juveniles appear duller, with reduced neck patterning and chestnut fringes on the mantle and wing-coverts.
Behaviour and Ecology
The species:
- Prefers undisturbed, dense forest habitats for feeding and nesting
- Shows a close association with shola ecosystems of the Western Ghats
- Was once affected by hunting for food and sport, contributing to an early population decline
Today, habitat-related threats play a far greater role in its survival challenges.
Threats to Survival
Key threats include:
- Loss, degradation and fragmentation of forest habitat
- Expansion of settlements, agriculture and plantations
- Reduction of continuous forest cover leading to isolated populations
Forest fragmentation disrupts movement, breeding and foraging, putting long-term survival at risk.
Conservation and Protection Measures
- The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon is legally protected in India
- Occurs within several protected areas of the Western Ghats, including tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries
- A remote-sensing project is planned to map range boundaries and assess forest loss impact
Effective conservation of its native forests is critical to its future survival.
