eBird describes the bird as "Large pigeon with an elegant, silky appearance. Smooth, pearly gray below with dark gray wings, back, and tail (the first two can appear iridescent greenish in good light). Also note faint white eye-ring. Can be confused with Green Imperial-Pigeon, but Gray is much duller- and darker-winged. An inhabitant of forested offshore islands, where it is typically encountered singly or in pairs up in the canopy. Song is a low, booming 'coOOOooouh'."[2]
D. p..pickeringii – Found on islets off of North and Northeast Borneo and the islets in the Sulu Sea from Balabac, Cagayancillo and Sulu Island.
D. p. langhornei – Found on West Bolod, East Bolod and Loran; paler with a more defined white ring around eye.
D. p. palmasensis – Found on Miangas and Talaud Islands ; paler and less pink on underparts
Behaviour and ecology
It has been noted feeding on fruits of figs and Cananga trees.Usually seen singly or in pairs. It sometimes associates with Green imperial pigeon and Pied imperial pigeon. Not much is known about its breeding habits but a female with a developing egg inside was taken in January in Miangas. Juveniles collected in July in Sabah.[3]
Habitat and conservation status
A captive Grey Imperial Pigeon seen in Ninoy Aquino Parks and WIldlife Center
Its natural habitats at tropical moist lowland and primary andsecondary forest and cultivated areas with trees. Little is known about its movements. It is reportedly resident on some northern Bornean islands, but certainly moves between Philippine islands, and varied in abundance from 1995 to 1997 on Karakelang, Indonesia. Like other small-island specialists, it presumably wanders in search of food.
Conservation actions proposed are survey in suitable habitat in order to calculate density estimates, better understand movements and ecology and calculate remaining habitat to refine the population estimate. Propose sites/islands supporting key populations for establishment as strict protected areas. Eradicate macaques and black rats from protected islands.Devise and initiate conservation awareness campaigns to control hunting and curb deforestation on key islands. Seek ban on trade in Imperial pigeons. Review taxonomic status of two subspecies (pickeringii and langhornei).[4]
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