CROWNED PIGEON PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The Victoria crowned pigeon,
Goura victoria, and the Common crowned pigeon,
Goura cristata, are the peacocks of the pigeon family.
They are the largest surviving pigeons.
The crowned pigeons, belonging to the family Gourinae,
are large blue-gray birds with deep maroon below.
The most noticeable difference between these two pigeons
is that the Victoria crowned pigeon's crest is
tipped in white while the common crowned pigeon's
is not.
Crowned pigeons differ from other pigeons
in having sixteen instead of twelve tail feathers,
in the scaling of their legs, in lacking an oil gland
and gall bladder, and in possessing a large, fan-shaped
crest of erect lacy feathers. The crest is so large
and beautiful that these birds have been hunted
as much as the birds of paradise.
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CROWNED PIGEON DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT:
In addition to being hunted
for their crests, these pigeons are also hunted
for their flesh, which, like that of all pigeons
is good eating. These fine large birds,
though now protected by law, have largely disappeared
near human habitations, but are reported to be fairly
common in the wilder jungles of New Guinea.
CROWNED PIGEON BEHAVIOR:
Unlike other birds, pigeons
and doves do not sip when drinking, but instead
they immerse their bill, sucking up water.
All pigeon and dove species move about in
flocks during the day and roost together at night. These
birds begin the morning with a chorus of calls
before the flock sets out to feed and drink. They
then return to their perching place, where they stay during
the hottest part of the day. In the afternoon they again
go off to feed and drink, finally retiring at night.
Such regular habits allow them to adapt quite easily
to captivity.
CROWNED PIGEON DIET:
In the wild, crowned pigeons
feed on fruits, berries and large seeds. In the Zoo
they are fed Game Bird chow, seeds, and assorted fruits.
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CROWNED PIGEON BREEDING AND NESTING:
Nests are placed in shrubs
and trees, relatively low. They prefer areas with tall hedges
and thickets to woodlands. The male chooses the
nesting
site and gathers twigs, roots and other materials, which
are set in place by the female. These
birds are monogamous
and tend to mate for life.
There are usually two
eggs in each
clutch,
elliptical in shape and white, with a faint bluish tinge.
Male and female share incubating duties for about
30 days, after which the
chicks are
hatched
nearly naked. These birds are "altricial," meaning
the chicks are almost helpless after
hatching and
require attentive parental care and
feeding. The
young can fly when they are three weeks old.
Pigeons are unusual among
birds in that they
produce a
milk which has a chemical composition similar
to that produced by mammals.
Flamingos are the only
other
birds to share this feature.
Pigeon
or crop milk is a secretion of the adult crop which forms
the complete
diet of
nestlings for the first
few days of life.
Crop milk is produced by both sexes.
Crested Pigeon
Fossil Specimens Discovered in The USA
