The black imperial pigeon (Ducula melanochroa) is a dark imperial pigeon endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago, a group of islands in Papua New Guinea. It is listed as Least Concern, meaning it is not currently considered threatened, but it has been little studied and its behaviour and exact population are still unclear.
Origins and History
Since they were first identified in 1878 by the zoologist, Philip Sclater, black imperial pigeons have acquired many common names.
Most notably, this species was known as Bismarck imperial and silver-laced imperial pigeons.
The International Ornithologists’ Union designated the name “black imperial pigeon” to be its common name since then.
This was to stop the confusion between this species and yellowish imperial pigeons (opens in new tab), which were also called Bismarck imperial pigeons at the time.
Black imperial pigeons were at first classified as Carpophaga (fruit-eating) melanochroa before that genus was lumped with Ducula (imperial pigeons.)
The species is now called Ducula melanochroa.
Distribution and Habitat
Black imperial pigeons are endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago, a group of islands in Papua New Guinea.
They mainly occur in the islands of New Britain, New Ireland, Duke of York, Watom, and Umboi.
Black imperials live in the forest canopy on those islands and nest in the trees.
They’re often found in elevated areas, anywhere between 200-1,800 meters above sea level.
Black imperials may move up and down the mountains with the seasons: on New Britain, their numbers in the lowlands vary through the year.
As a fruit-eating species, they rely on the canopy’s supply of fruit for sustenance as far as we know.
Black imperial pigeons are often spotted alone but may be seen eating in small flocks.
Thankfully, the black imperial pigeon isn’t considered to be endangered.
It’s classified as a species of “least concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Its numbers are not thought to be falling quickly, according to the IUCN assessment (opens in new tab).
However, its population is thought to be slowly declining due to loss of habitat.
Appearance and Characteristics
Black imperial pigeons are among the few pigeons that look almost entirely black.
They have bright red eyes, gray bills, and dark-red legs.
| Wingspan | Length | Weight | Coloring | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Imperial Pigeon | Unknown | 38 – 43 cm | 661 – 665 g | Slate black with some silver |
| Average Feral Pigeon | 64 – 72 cm | 32 – 37 cm | 300 – 500 g | Bluish gray with some black |
As with pied imperial pigeons, they have a heavy build with short, visible necks.
Males and females look similar, while juveniles have paler undertail coverts.
Black imperial pigeons are relatively large, weighing around 23 ounces as adults.
These pigeons might look all black from a distance, but they have a fine silver or white line on the tips of their flight feathers.
Their undertail coverts are dark chestnut, while the underside of the tail is silvery-grey.
The call of this species is similar to your common pigeon’s low-pitched coos, except that it’s deeper.
This elusive species has not been studied enough to fully understand its behavior.
In fact, only one known black imperial pigeon nest was found by researchers.
Similar Breeds
Few wild pigeons are all black.
The closest breed in terms of color is probably the metallic pigeon, though it’s quite easily distinguishable from the black imperial pigeon.
Metallic pigeons have a bright white throat patch and reddish-brown chest.
You may mistake one for the other if you’re looking at its back.
Other than that, there are black pigeons out there that were developed through selective breeding.
It’s not an easy process, but experienced pigeon breeders can end up with all-black pigeons that belong to different breeds such as the Mookee pigeon for example.
The Black Imperial Pigeon was previously placed in a species group with the Pinon, Louisiade and collared imperial pigeons.
Related imperial pigeons include the:
- Chestnut-Bellied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula brenchleyi)
- Goliath Imperial Pigeon (Ducula goliath)
- Collared Imperial Pigeon (Ducula mullerii)
- Black Imperial Pigeon (Ducula melanochroa)
- Vanuatu Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bakeri)
- Pinon Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pinon)
Conclusion
Despite having a limited range on the map, the black imperial pigeon is not considered threatened. It exists on only a few islands in Papua New Guinea.
The black imperial pigeon is still poorly known.
All we know about it is where it exists, what it eats, and varying estimates of its population.
So it’s safe to say this is not a pigeon you’ll end up raising in your home.
Last updated 31 October 2026 · Types