Ptilinopus rarotongensis
Cook Islands Fruit-dove
Kūkupa RR
f.COLUMBIDAE
Pigeons & Doves
Ptilinopus rarotongensis
Cook Islands Fruit-dove
Kūkupa RR
f.COLUMBIDAE
Pigeons & Doves
Cook Islands Status Summary
Show Notes
Intl. NamesCook Islands Fruit‑dove EN Cook Insel Fruchttaube DE Rarotongafruchtaube DE
Local NamesKūkupaRR,AT,MK
Pacific NamesNo Content
Sci. NamesPtilinopus rarotongensis (accepted name)
, Ptilinopus rarotongensis goodwini, Ptilinopus rarotongensis rarotongensis
High Tax. Eng.k.Animals, p.Vertebrates, c.Birds, f.Pigeons & Doves - Bird
High Tax. Latink.ANIMALIA, p.CHORDATA, sp.GNATHOSTOMATA, spc.TETRAPODA, c.AVES, sc.NEOGNATHAE, o.Columbiformes, f.COLUMBIDAE
Natl. PresencePresent
Sth. PresenceRR+++MG-AT++++MK- XMT-AK-PL-MN-TK-
Nth. PresenceTN-MH-RK-PK-NS-SW-
VouchersAT1973
Local OriginNative; Resident; Endemic of Cook Is
Global RangeNative: Cooks (Rarotonga, ‘Ātiu);
HabitatLand; Lowlands, Makatea; Uplands
ThreatenedGlobally endangered - moderately; REDLIST
InvasivenessNo Content
BiosecurityNo Content
Medical StatusNo Content
Harmful StatusNo Content
UsesNo Content
IdentificationTo 25cm TL. Plump with a short-bill. Sexes alike. Head pale grey with a magenta cap on the forehead; neck and breast pale grey; belly greenish-yellow (Atiu) or yellow with dark magenta patch (Rarotonga); back and wings green, main wing-feathers with more...a yellow edge; tail green with white terminal band. Bill pale green-brown. VOICE: on Rarotonga OOOO-OOOO-ooo-oo-oo with coos shortening and softening; on Atiu similar to Rarogonga and also OOOO-OOOO-oooo with 2nd coo higher and 3rd lower. BREEDING: nest a loose twig platform; one unmarked egg.
Similar SpeciesNo Content
Interest NoteDuring August and September 1997 Jeanne and Rosaline Tianoa more...and Georgina Maui made important observations on nesting behaviour in Avatiu. The lay-date was unknown but after 10 days of observed incubation the egg hatched 12 August - both birds shared incubation. The birds were distinguished by colour and behaviour - the smaller bird had a grey and light pink beak, while the other had a yellow and dark pink beak. Light Pink incubated during the night, and Dark Pink during the day. Nestling was feed on green fluid from mouth by both adults; by 13th day wing feathers had developed and it climbed from nest to sit on a branch, adults changed its diet to berries. 16th day first flight within nesting tree. 19th day flights to nearby trees, returning to nesting tree. 19th Light Pink killed in nest-tree at night by cat. During next 10 days the young flew from tree to tree calling and being fed by adult, which also chased harassing mynas and foreign fruit-dove. Day 30 adult still feeding the young; both leave towards the mountains. Although female fruit-doves are generally smaller and paler, we cannot be sure that the Tianoa "Light Pink" was the female.
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Vernacular Names
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Invasive/Pest Status
no data available
Biosecurity
Citation Information
McCormack, Gerald (2026) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2026.03.23 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
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