First-Ever Sighting of Australian Diamond Dove in Assam's National Park
In a significant ornithological discovery, researchers have documented the first-ever record of the Australian endemic diamond dove in the Indian state of Assam. The sighting occurred inside the Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park located in Kokrajhar district, marking a notable expansion in the known range of this species.
Detailed Observation of the Exotic Species
The finding was published in the latest issue of the 'Journal of Threatened Texa' by a research team comprising Bibhash Sarkar, Bijay Basfore, Anjana Singha Naorem, and Leons Mathew Abraham. According to the journal, this delicate dove is characterized by a long, pointed tail and sexually dimorphic plumage.
Males display pale blue-grey coloring with spotted scapulars, a distinctive chestnut wing panel, white underparts, and a black-and-white tail pattern. They feature scarlet irises and pink legs. In contrast, females exhibit browner plumage with a duller orbital ring, while juveniles appear overall duller with fine barring, fewer spots, a lighter bill, and paler eyes and legs.
Circumstances of the Discovery
The two birds were observed in April 2025 within the Runikhata range of the national park. Researchers noted the doves foraging on the ground approximately 200 meters from a dried-up stream, providing crucial behavioral context to the sighting.
Bijay Basfore, one of the study's authors, emphasized that the diamond dove is listed as 'least concern' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is naturally a resident species in Australia, with no historical occurrence in southern Asia.
Human-Mediated Introduction Likely Source
The presence of these birds in Assam is best explained as a human-mediated introduction, Basfore stated. The species is extensively bred and traded within the global cagebird industry due to its small size, ease of maintenance, and ornamental plumage.
Thus, the most plausible explanation for this record is that these individuals were either escapees or intentional releases from captivity. This highlights the significant role of the pet trade in facilitating the movement of species beyond their natural habitats.
Ecological Risks and Conservation Concerns
The researchers issued a warning about the potential ecological risks associated with repeated introductions of exotic birds. Even when many escapees fail to establish breeding populations, such introductions can lead to competition with native species, ecosystem disruption, disease introduction, and the potential for species to become invasive under favorable conditions.
The authors called for closer monitoring and systematic reporting of exotic bird sightings across India. They urged stricter regulation and licensing of the exotic bird trade to prevent both accidental and deliberate releases into wild environments, emphasizing the importance of protecting native biodiversity from such introductions.
