Comoro blue pigeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Comoro blue pigeon |
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| Genus: |
Alectroenas
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| Species: |
sganzini
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The Comoro blue pigeon (scientific name: Alectroenas sganzini) is a beautiful bird from the pigeon family. It lives only in the Comoros islands and the coral islands of the Seychelles. This special bird is considered near threatened, which means it needs our attention to stay safe.
Contents
What Does the Comoro Blue Pigeon Look Like?
The Comoro blue pigeon is about 27 centimetres (11 in) long. That's roughly the length of a ruler!
Size and Weight
Male pigeons weigh between 134 to 158 g (4.7 to 5.6 oz). Female pigeons are a bit lighter, weighing around 117 grams (4.1 oz).
Colors and Features
This pigeon has a silvery gray head, neck, and upper chest. Its neck feathers are silvery white and look long and ruffled. The beak is greenish or yellowish gray with a light tip. Its lower body is black. The lower chest shines with a violet-blue color. The belly and sides are more greenish blue.
Where Does the Comoro Blue Pigeon Live?
The Comoro blue pigeon is found only in two places. These are the Comoros islands and the coral islands of the Seychelles. When a species lives only in one place, it is called endemic.
Its Home
This bird makes its home in different kinds of forests. It lives in warm, wet lowland forests. It also likes tropical mangrove forests, which grow in salty water. Sometimes, it lives in moist mountain forests. You can find these pigeons living at heights from 500 to 1,500 m (1,600 to 4,900 ft) above sea level.
How Does the Comoro Blue Pigeon Behave?
The Comoro blue pigeon can be a bit shy and fly alone. But sometimes, you might see them in groups of up to 15 birds.
Flying Habits
These groups often fly about 10 m (30 ft) above the water. They travel between islands in the Aldabra group. They make regular trips in one direction in the mornings. Then they fly back again in the evenings. Their flight is very fast, and they clap their wings as they fly.
Unique Habits
They like to perch high in a tree in the bright sun. They will often lift one wing to let the sun warm it. These birds usually stay in trees. They eat fruits and seem to avoid landing on the ground. However, small stones found inside them suggest they do sometimes go down to the earth.
Why is the Comoro Blue Pigeon Near Threatened?
As of 2017, the Comoro blue pigeon is listed as near threatened. This means it's not in immediate danger, but its future needs watching.
Understanding Its Status
Even though it lives in a specific area, its home range is quite large. It covers more than 20,000 square kilometers (7,700 square miles). Its population is decreasing, but not quickly enough to be called vulnerable yet. Experts believe there are more than 10,000 of these birds.
Where It's Found
While it's common in some places, it has disappeared from many small islands. This shows why it's important to protect their habitats.
