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The crowned pigeon (Goura) belongs to the family Pigeon, which includes 3 species. Externally, the species of pigeons are similar, differing only in their habitats. This species was described in 1819 by the English entomologist James Francis Stevens.
Description of the crowned dove
The crowned pigeon is one of the most beautiful and colorful birds in the world, which differs significantly from its closest relative - the common rock pigeon.
First of all, the crowned pigeon attracts attention with its unusual crest, which consists of feathers with tassels at the end, very similar to an openwork fan. The color is bright, depending on the type of pigeon: it can be purple, chestnut, blue or light blue. The tail consists of 15-18 long tail feathers, wide, rather long, rounded at the end. The body of the crowned pigeon is trapezoid-shaped, slightly streamlined, covered with short feathers. The neck is thin, graceful, the head is spherical, small. The eyes are red, the pupils have a bronze tint. The wings of a dove are massive, strong, and covered with feathers. Their color is slightly darker than on the body. The wingspan is about 40 cm. In flight, the noise of powerful wings is heard. The paws are scaly with short toes and claws. The beak of a pigeon is pyramidal in shape, has a blunt tip, and is quite strong.
Features of the crowned dove:
- the appearance of the male and female is not particularly different;
- differs from its relative the rock pigeon in its larger size (resembles a turkey);
- the life expectancy of a pigeon is about 20 years (in captivity with proper care up to 15 years);
- non-migratory bird;
- in its natural habitat, the pigeon flies little and it is quite difficult for it;
- creates one pair for life.
The dove is named after Queen Victoria for its royal crest. The first crowned pigeon birds appeared in Europe in early 1900 and were settled in the Rotterdam Zoo.
Habitat
The homeland of the crowned pigeon is considered to be New Guinea and the islands closest to it - Biak, Yapen, Waigeo, Seram, Salavati. The population in these places numbers about 10 thousand individuals. Some species are native to Australia, which is why it is sometimes called the Australian pigeon.
Crowned pigeons live in small groups strictly in a certain territory, the boundaries of which are not violated. They inhabit both swampy areas, river floodplains, and dry places. Often pigeons can be found near farms where there is no shortage of food.
Varieties
There are 3 types of crowned pigeon found in nature:
- blue-crested;
- fan-bearing;
- chestnut-chested.
The blue-crested crowned pigeon has a bright feature that distinguishes it from the other two species - the crest is blue, there are no triangular tassels at the tips of the feathers. In addition, it is the largest species. Its weight reaches 3 kg, height is about 80 cm. It inhabits only the southern part of New Guinea.
The fantail is considered the most striking representative of the crowned pigeon. It attracts attention with its crest, which resembles a fan. Color brownish-red. The pigeon weighs about 2.5 kg, height up to 75 cm.Of all the species, it is the rarest, as it is subject to extermination by poachers. Lives in the northern outskirts of New Guinea.
The chestnut-breasted crowned pigeon is the smallest: its weight is up to 2 kg, its height is about 70 cm. The color of the breast is brown (chestnut). The crest is blue, without triangular tassels. Lives in central New Guinea.
Lifestyle
The crowned pigeon most often moves on the ground in search of food, trying not to rise high. It moves along tree branches with the help of its paws. Often sits, swinging on a vine. These pigeons fly only when necessary to move to another habitat. When danger arises, pigeons fly to the lower branches of nearby trees, staying there for a long time, flicking their tails, transmitting signals of danger to their fellows.
Crowned pigeons have a wide variety of sounds, each of which has its own special meaning: a sound to attract a female, a guttural sound to indicate the boundaries of its territory, a male’s war cry, an alarm signal.
Although this bird has no enemies in nature, due to its trusting nature it often becomes a victim of predators or poachers. Pigeons are not shy and calm towards humans. They can accept treats and even allow themselves to be picked up.
Crowned pigeons are diurnal. Usually they are engaged in building a nest and searching for food. Couples try to make time for each other. Young pigeons live in groups together with older individuals, being under their supervision.
Nutrition
Basically, crowned pigeons prefer plant foods: fruits, seeds, berries, nuts. They can pick fruits lying under trees on the ground.At the same time, pigeons do not rake the ground cover with their paws, which is completely uncharacteristic of birds of the pigeon family.
Occasionally they can feast on snails, insects, and larvae, which are found under the bark of trees.
Like all birds, crowned pigeons love fresh greens. Sometimes they raid fields with new shoots.
Having completely exhausted food supplies in one territory, a flock of crowned pigeons moves to another area, richer in food resources.
When kept in captivity (zoos, nurseries, private dovecotes), the diet of pigeons consists of grain mixtures: millet, wheat, rice, and so on. They enjoy eating sunflower seeds, peas, corn, and soybeans.
They are also fed boiled chicken yolk, fresh low-fat cottage cheese, and carrots. Animal protein is important for pigeons to develop properly, so sometimes they are given boiled meat.
Reproduction
Crowned pigeons are monogamous. They create a pair for life, and if one of the partners dies, then the second is more likely to be left alone. Before mating, pigeons carefully select partners through mating games that take place strictly within the territory of the flock. During the mating season, males behave somewhat aggressively: they puff out their chests, flapping their wings loudly, but, as a rule, it does not come to fights - these birds are quite peaceful.
The ritual of choosing a companion for crowned pigeons is as follows. Young males, making special sounds, attract females, walking around the territory of their flock. Female pigeons, flying above them and listening to the singing of males, find the most suitable one and descend to the ground not far from him.
Next, having already formed a pair, the crowned pigeons together choose a place for the future nest. Before setting it up, they simply incubate it for some time, wanting to show the rest of the birds in the flock the place of their future home. Only after this does the mating process occur, and then the pair begins to build a nest. It is interesting that the female is busy setting up the nest, while the male is obtaining material suitable for the nest.
Crowned pigeons build their nests very high (6-10 m), despite their dislike of heights. Immediately after the completion of construction, the female lays eggs. Most often in a single copy, but in some cases, depending on the subspecies, 2-3 eggs. The entire incubation process, in which both parents take part, takes about a month. The female sits at night, and the father of the family during the day. They leave the nest only to get food and sometimes fly around the territory, showing that it is occupied. During this period, future parents take care of each other, look after each other, stay together and treat their partner with goodies.
At the moment when the chicks appear, the female pigeon is constantly in the nest, so the male has to get food for two. In the first week of the chicks' life, the mother feeds them regurgitated, digested food from her stomach. When the female leaves for a short time, the father feeds them in the same way. This is a rather difficult period for parents. It is necessary to protect the babies from falling out of the nest, feed them, and inspect the territory more often, preventing possible danger. A month later, the chicks have their first plumage, they try to fly and get their own food. For about 2 more years, young pigeons are under the care of their parents, living nearby.
Captivity
For keeping in captivity, the crowned pigeon can be purchased at specialized nurseries. This pleasure is very expensive. This bird requires both economic and labor costs.
It must be remembered that the crowned pigeon is a tropical bird. We need to build her a spacious enclosure and create comfortable living conditions. The enclosure must be closed to avoid drafts, temperature changes, and excessive humidity in the room. In the cold season, electric heating and maintaining constant humidity will be required.
For a pair of crowned pigeons, it is worth equipping a secluded place for the nest, hanging it as high as possible. Usually, a high branched snag is placed indoors for pigeons and they are provided with the building material necessary for arranging a nest. Everything in the aviary should resemble the natural habitat of birds - tropical forests.
Not all pigeon lovers are able to keep them, but with the right approach, if all the conditions are created, birds can live and even breed in captivity.
Conclusion
The crowned pigeon is one of the rare species of the pigeon family in the wild, but the most commonly found in captivity. Included in the “Red List” of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Capturing them for captivity, as well as hunting them, is strictly prohibited and punishable by law. But because of their bright plumage, poachers continue to hunt these birds. As a result, the population of crowned pigeons, despite all laws, is rapidly declining.
