Christmas emerald dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christmas emerald dove |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Columbiformes |
| Family: | Columbidae |
| Genus: | Chalcophaps |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
C. i. natalis
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| Trinomial name | |
| Chalcophaps indica natalis Lister, 1889
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| Synonyms | |
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The Christmas emerald dove (Chalcophaps indica natalis) is a special type of bird that lives only on Christmas Island. It's also known as the Christmas green-winged pigeon. This beautiful bird is part of the pigeon family, called Columbidae. It's a unique kind of common emerald dove found only in this one place.
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What Does It Look Like?
The Christmas emerald dove is a small, brownish pigeon with pretty green wings. It is about 23 to 26 centimeters (9 to 10 inches) long. Its wings can spread out to about 43 to 46 centimeters (17 to 18 inches). This bird weighs between 80 and 135 grams (about 3 to 5 ounces).
It is smaller than other emerald doves found in mainland Australia. The adult male has a light grey cap on its head. It also has a clear white forehead and a white stripe above its eye. Its shoulder patch is mostly reddish-brown with a thin white line.
The adult female looks a bit different. Her head, neck, and belly are darker and more reddish-brown. She does not have the grey and white colors on her head. She also lacks the pale shoulder patch that the male has.
Where Does It Live?
The Christmas emerald dove lives only on Christmas Island. This island is about 137 square kilometers (53 square miles) in size. The bird is quite common there.
It lives in the tropical rainforest that covers most of the island. It can also be found in other areas. These include new forest growth and places where people live.
How Does It Behave?
These doves are often seen in pairs. You might spot them on the ground or in low trees.
How Do They Have Babies?
The Christmas emerald dove mainly breeds between October and February. They build a simple nest using twigs in a tree or bush. The female lays two glossy, cream-colored bird eggs.
The parents take turns sitting on the eggs for at least 17 days. After the chicks hatch, they stay in the nest for another 12 to 16 days.
What Do They Eat?
The doves usually look for food on the ground. They eat seeds and fruits that have fallen from trees.
Why Is It Important to Protect Them?
In 1988, experts thought there were about 1000 pairs of these doves. Today, the Christmas emerald dove is considered an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
One of the biggest threats to these birds comes from yellow crazy ants. These ants were accidentally brought to Christmas Island. The ants can harm the young birds in their nests. They also cause big changes to the island's environment. These changes make it harder for the doves to find food and safe places to live.
Because of these threats, the Christmas emerald dove is listed as endangered. This listing helps protect the bird under Australian law.
