Crown Pigeon

The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) is a large, bluish-grey pigeon with elegant blue lace-like crests, maroon breast, and red irises. It is part of a genus (Goura) of four unique, very large, ground-dwelling pigeons native to the New Guinea region. The bird may be easily recognized by the unique white tips on its crests and by its deep 'whooping' sounds made while calling. Its name commemorates the British monarch, Queen Victoria.

General Information:

Common Name:Crown Pigeon
Scientific Name:Goura Victoria
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order:Columbiformes
Family:Columbidae

Description

The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) is a large, bluish-grey pigeon with elegant blue lace-like crests, maroon breast, and red irises. It is part of a genus (Goura) of four unique, very large, ground-dwelling pigeons native to the New Guinea region. The bird may be easily recognized by the unique white tips on its crests and by its deep 'whooping' sounds made while calling. Its name commemorates the British monarch, Queen Victoria.

Distribution

Victoria crowned pigeons are found in northern New Guinea and surrounding islands and in parts of Indonesia

Habitat

They inhabit lowland moist and swamp forests and often occur in areas that were former alluvial plains, including sago forests.

Mating Habits

Victoria crowned pigeons are monogamous and mate for life. Their breeding season peaks late in the wet season and in the dry season. The female usually lays a single white egg in a well-built tree nest of stems, sticks, and palm leaves. In the weeks before she lays the egg, the male brings nesting material to the female. The egg is incubated around 30 days. The chicks are altricial meaning they hatch helpless, blind, and require parental care. The young leave the nest when they are still much smaller than their parents but are actively tended to for a total of 13 weeks. They become reproductively mature at fifteen months of age.

Diet

Victoria crowned pigeons are herbivores (frugivores, granivores). They feed mainly on fallen fruits but also on berries, seeds, and occasionally small invertebrates.

Threats

The most pressing threat to the species is continuing habitat loss due to logging.

It is now quite uncommon near human habitations because it is heavily hunted around them, particularly in areas where gun possession is prevalent. It can be quite tame and easily shot, though now seems to be fearful of humans in the wild. Most hunting is for its plumes and meat.

IUCN Status
Near Threatened