Polynesian ground-dove  (Gallicolumba erythroptera)

The Polynesian ground-dove formerly occurred in the Society Islands and throughout the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, and fossil records even exist from the Southern Cook Islands, but populations now only survive in small pockets in the Tuamotu Archipelago (2). Recent records exist only from Matureivavao (1968 and possibly 1987, but not found in 1999) and two islets in Rangiroa Atoll (1990 to 1991, perhaps a separate subspecies or colour morph of G. e. pectoralis, but no birds have been seen since). A small population was also recently seen on Tenararo (1999), and a 2003 expedition to further remote islands in the Tuamotu Archipelago discovered a new population, doubling the known global population to around 100 to 110 birds (2) (3).

Prefers primary forest on atolls with herbs, shrubs and ferns or dense shrubs (2).