Description
The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon (Treron phoenicopterus), also known as the Yellow-legged Green Pigeon, is an attractive fruit-eating bird found widely across the Indian subcontinent.
This original wildlife photograph captures a Yellow-footed Green Pigeon in Gujarat, India, documenting the distinctive appearance of one of India’s characteristic green pigeons.
The photograph was captured by wildlife photographer Amarjeetsinh Jhala and forms part of the Focused Nature By AJ collection of original bird, wildlife and nature photography.
About the Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon is scientifically known as Treron phoenicopterus and belongs to the family Columbidae and order Columbiformes.
It is also commonly known as:
- Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
- Yellow-legged Green Pigeon
- Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon
- Yellow-legged Green-Pigeon
- Hariyal
Birds of India currently uses Yellow-legged Green Pigeon as the primary English name and notes Yellow-footed Green Pigeon as an alternative name.
In Gujarat, the species is commonly known as Hariyal and is listed as a resident bird.
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Identification
The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon has several distinctive features that make it recognizable in the field.
Important identification characteristics include:
- Predominantly green plumage
- Greyish or bluish-grey crown
- Greenish-yellow forehead
- Yellow-orange throat and neck
- Olive-green upperparts
- Yellow legs and feet
- Pale bill with a contrasting tip
- Red or reddish-brown iris
- Distinctive grey shoulder area
The yellow feet are one of the most useful features for identifying this species and are responsible for its common English name.
eBird describes the species as a brightly coloured green pigeon with significant regional variation, with South Asian birds showing a yellow-orange neck and green underparts.
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Appearance
The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon has predominantly green plumage that provides excellent camouflage among foliage.
Its greyish crown contrasts with the green body, while the yellowish forehead, throat and neck create additional colour variation around the head.
The yellow feet and legs are particularly distinctive when the bird is perched on branches.
Males and females are generally similar in appearance, making careful observation of plumage, structure and colour useful for identification.
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon in Gujarat
The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon is a resident bird of Gujarat.
Birds of Gujarat lists Treron phoenicopterus as a common green pigeon in the state and identifies its status in Gujarat as Resident.
The species has been documented in several parts of Gujarat, including areas around Surat, Banaskantha and Mehsana. Gujarat bird records also include observations from Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary and Thol Wildlife Sanctuary.
This makes Gujarat an important region for observing and photographing the species.
Habitat
Yellow-footed Green Pigeons are associated with well-wooded landscapes and forests, but they can also occur in parks, gardens, orchards and other areas containing fruiting trees.
Suitable habitats include:
- Deciduous forests
- Woodland
- Forest edges
- Agricultural landscapes with mature trees
- Orchards
- Gardens
- Parks
- Village surroundings
- Urban green spaces
- Areas containing fruiting trees
eBird notes that the species occurs in lowland forest and forest edge as well as parks, gardens and orchards, and can be a common urban bird in parts of its South Asian range.
Diet
The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon is primarily a fruit-eating bird.
Its diet includes:
- Figs
- Berries
- Fruits
- Seeds
- Other plant material
Fruiting trees are particularly important feeding locations.
The species is known to feed on fruits from trees including various Ficus species.
Because of this fruit-based diet, Yellow-footed Green Pigeons can often be found around mature fruiting trees.
Feeding Behaviour
Yellow-footed Green Pigeons are primarily arboreal, spending much of their time in trees.
They may move through branches while searching for fruit and can sometimes hang or climb along branches to reach food.
They often forage in groups and may gather in larger numbers around trees carrying abundant fruit.
Social Behaviour
The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon is a social species and can be observed in pairs or groups.
During periods when fruit is abundant, several birds may gather in the same tree to feed.
Their green plumage provides excellent camouflage among leaves, making them an interesting challenge for bird photographers.
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Photography
The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon is an excellent subject for Indian bird photography because of its attractive green plumage and contrasting yellow feet.
Photographers can capture the species:
- Perched on branches
- Feeding on fruit
- Sitting among foliage
- Flying between trees
- Feeding in groups
- Resting in fruiting trees
- Moving through woodland
- Interacting with other birds
The species can be particularly challenging to photograph when it is surrounded by dense green foliage because its plumage blends naturally into its environment.
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Photography in Gujarat
Gujarat offers excellent opportunities for bird photography and wildlife photography, with habitats ranging from dry forests and agricultural landscapes to wetlands, gardens and urban green spaces.
Yellow-footed Green Pigeons have been documented in different parts of the state, including areas around Thol Wildlife Sanctuary, Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary and Surat.
This photograph forms part of the Focused Nature By AJ Gujarat bird photography collection, documenting the diversity of birds and wildlife found across Gujarat.
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon and Hariyal
The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon is popularly known as Hariyal in several parts of India.
The name is particularly familiar in western and northern India and is associated with this green-coloured fruit-eating pigeon.
The species is also the state bird of Maharashtra, although its distribution extends well beyond Maharashtra across the Indian subcontinent.
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Conservation Status
The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon is currently classified globally as Least Concern.
State of India’s Birds 2025 lists the species as Low conservation priority in Gujarat, with its Gujarat population trend currently assessed as stable. The species is classified as a resident, non-specialist habitat species in Gujarat.
The Gujarat bird checklist also lists the species as Least Concern and resident in the state.
Protecting mature trees, forests, woodland and fruiting trees is important for maintaining suitable habitat for this species and other fruit-eating birds.
Photography Details
Common Name: Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
Alternative Common Name: Yellow-legged Green Pigeon
Local Name: Hariyal
Scientific Name: Treron phoenicopterus
Family: Columbidae
Order: Columbiformes
Bird Type: Green Pigeon / Fruit-eating Bird
Status in Gujarat: Resident
Location: Gujarat, India
Habitat: Forests, Woodlands, Gardens, Orchards and Tree-rich Landscapes
Diet: Primarily Fruits and Other Plant Material
Activity: Diurnal
Global Conservation Status: Least Concern
Gujarat Conservation Priority: Low
Photograph Type: Wildlife / Bird Photograph
Photographer: Amarjeetsinh Jhala
About This Photograph
This is an original Yellow-footed Green Pigeon wildlife photograph captured in Gujarat, India by wildlife photographer Amarjeetsinh Jhala.
The photograph forms part of the Focused Nature By AJ collection of original Indian bird, wildlife and nature photography.
The image documents the natural appearance of the Yellow-footed Green Pigeon and contributes to a photographic record of Gujarat’s diverse birdlife.
The photograph can be licensed for approved personal, commercial, educational, editorial and printing applications according to the selected license.
Image Licensing
Personal Use
Suitable for personal collections, wallpapers and other approved non-commercial applications.
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Suitable for websites, digital marketing, advertising, social media, business presentations and other approved commercial applications.
Printing & Publication
Suitable for magazines, books, newspapers, calendars, educational publications, exhibitions and other approved editorial and printing uses.
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Focused Nature By AJ documents birds, mammals, reptiles and nature through original wildlife photography, with selected photographs available for personal, commercial and printing & publication licensing.
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