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Observation of a Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) feeding on boiled peanuts at Doddabetta Peak, The Nilgiris, India

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Published: 20 October 2025
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In this study, we report the observation of the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) feeding on boiled peanuts scattered on the ground at Doddabetta Peak. This behavior was first noted incidentally and was subsequently monitored over the course of a week. During this period, the species was consistently observed feeding on the peanuts in the evening hours. Notably, these observations were made during the breeding season of the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, suggesting an adaptive foraging in response to local ecological pressures, fluctuating resource availability, and the nutritional demands of the breeding season.

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Citations

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Observation of a Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) feeding on boiled peanuts at Doddabetta Peak, The Nilgiris, India. (2025). Rivista Italiana Di Ornitologia. https://doi.org/10.4081/rio.2025.904