Australia (E) (B), Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia (B), New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines (B), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste (B) (NB), Vanuatu.
Islands of south-western Pacific Ocean from Philippines and islands north of Borneo, south to Indonesia and east through New Guinea, associated archipelagoes and Solomon Islands to Fiji and Western Samoa, and south to Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Endemic to Lord Howe Island.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Status LC
Extinct. Subspecies godmanae was endemic to Lord Howe Island. Last seen during 1850's. Extinction was probably brought about by hunting as early settlers killed large numbers for food. Other species are present on islnads from south-east Asia to the Pacific.
Subspecies
Belongs to a superspecies of dark-coloured, iridescent Asian and Australasian forms, including Japanese Woodpigeon (Columba janthina) and White-headed Pigeon (Columba leucomela), and the extinct Bonin Woodpigeon (Columba versicolor) and Ryukyu Woodpigeon (Columba jouyi). Yellow-legged Pigeon (Columba pallidiceps) may also be related. Subspecies godmanae of Lord Howe I extinct but validity uncertain, as no specimen exists, the description being based on a painting. Proposed subspecies mendeni from Taliabu, Sula Is no longer regarded as valid.
The following 9 subspecies are recognised:
vitiensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1830 - Fiji.
griseogularis (Walden & Layard, EL, 1872) - Philippines, Sulu Archipelago, and islands off northern Borneo.
anthracina (Hachisuka, 1939) - Palawan, probably Calauit, and possibly also some islands off northern Borneo.
metallica Temminck, 1835 - Lesser Sundas.
halmaheira (Bonaparte, 1855) - Banggai and Sula Is through Moluccas and West Papuan Is to New Guinea, then on to Louisiade Archipelago and Solomon Islands.
leopoldi (Tristram, 1879) - Vanuatu.
hypoenochroa (Gould, 1856) - New Caledonia, I of Pines and Loyalty Islands.
castaneiceps Peale, 1849 - Western Samoa, on Savaii, Apolima, Manono and Upolu.
godmanae! (Mathews, 1915) - Lord Howe Island. Extinct.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
BirdLife International Species Factsheet