Great cuckoo-dove

, ca 1845|upright=0.8 The great cuckoo-dove was originally described in 1824 as Columba reinwardtsi by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck on the basis of a specimen from Ambon Island, Indonesia, although Temminck erroneously stated that specimen came from Sulawesi. The spelling reinwardtsi was a misprint for reinwardtii, and Temminck himself used the latter spelling in his table of contents; however, other authors have emended the name to reinwardti, and both of these spellings are currently used. Both the generic and specific names are in honour of the Dutch naturalist Caspar Reinwardt. Great cuckoo-dove is the official common name designated by the International Ornithologists' Union (IOU). Other English common names for the species include long-tailed cuckoo-dove, Reinwardt's cuckoo-dove, giant cuckoo-dove, Reinwardt's long-tailed pigeon, chestnut-and-grey pigeon, and maroon-and-grey pigeon. In the Sansundi language of Biak Island, it is known as Man Wupu. The great cuckoo-dove is one of three species in the genus Reinwardtoena in the pigeon family, Columbidae. It is very similar in appearance to the pied cuckoo-dove (Reinwardtoena browni) and the two are sometimes considered allospecies—species with geographically separated populations that can be considered part of the same species complex. It currently has three subspecies recognised by the IOU; some authors also recognise populations from Buru and Obi as distinct subspecies albida and obiensis, respectively. The subspecies recognised by the IOU are: • R. r. reinwardti (Temminck, 1824): The nominate subspecies, it is found on Morotai, Halmahera, Kayoa, Bacan, Obi, Buru, Ambon, Seram and Seram Laut in the Maluku Islands. • R. r. griseotincta Hartert, EJO, 1896: Found on New Guinea and its surrounding islands, except for Biak and the Louisiade Archipelago. Larger and darker than the nominate, with the white coloration confined to the forehead, face, and throat. • R. r. brevis Peters, JL, 1937: Found on Biak and Supiori. It is smaller and paler than the other subspecies and may represent a distinct species. == Description ==

The great cuckoo-dove is a large and long-tailed pigeon, with a length of and a weight of . These cuckoo-doves can be distinguished from the great cuckoo-dove by their smaller size and vinous-tinged, more strongly barred underparts, which contrast less with the upper body. The second call is a series of around 12 deep hoo notes, with the notes getting deeper and faster towards the end; this call has been described as resembling "insane laughter". == Distribution and habitat ==

The great cuckoo-dove is native to Papuasia and Wallacea. In the Maluku Islands of Indonesia, it is found on Buru, Ambon, Seram, Obi, Bacan, Kasiruta, Kayoa, Halmahera, and Morotai. On New Guinea, it occurs across most of the mainland, excluding the Trans-Fly lowlands, as well as the satellite islands of Waigeo, Salawati, Misool, Yapen, Biak, Kumamba, Kairiru, Manam, Karkar, Goodenough, and Fergusson. The species mainly inhabits primary forest and forest edge; on Biak, it is also known from logged forest, secondary growth, and gallery forests. It is found at elevations of up to on mainland New Guinea and up to on Karkar Island. On the Maluku Islands, it is found from , but is most common above . == Behaviour and ecology ==

and several individuals have been found to have stones in their stomachs. Great cuckoo-doves lay a single white egg, measuring . Captive birds are known to lay multiple clutches if their first clutch fails. Both parents may incubate the egg, which has been observed to hatch after 16 days in captivity and after 22 days in a wild nest. Young are brooded until 13 days after hatching and leave the nest 25 days after hatching. Fledglings begin foraging by themselves 35 days after hatching. and Coloceras museihalense. The pygmy eagle is a possible predator. == Status and conservation ==

The great cuckoo-dove is classified as being of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to its sufficiently large range and stable population. Its population size has not been estimated; although it is thought to be generally uncommon throughout its range, it can be locally common in hilly and mountainous areas. It is moderately common in Papua New Guinea and has a density of 4–6 birds per square kilometre in the Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area, although it can be uncommon in the northeast of the country. On Seram, it is rare in the lowlands, but common at higher elevations. ==References==