Crested cuckoo-dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crested cuckoo-dove |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Reinwardtoena
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| Species: |
crassirostris
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| Synonyms | |
The crested cuckoo-dove (Reinwardtoena crassirostris) is a unique bird from the pigeon family. It was first described in 1856. This special bird lives only in the Solomon Islands archipelago. It mostly lives in hill forests, usually between 500 and 900 meters (about 1,600 to 3,000 feet) high.
This pigeon is quite large and strong. It grows to be about 40–42 centimeters (16–17 inches) long. Its most noticeable feature is a pale purplish-grey crest on its head. Adult birds are mostly bluish-grey. They have a light greyish-buff throat and a blackish tail. Their bill is reddish with a yellow tip. Both male and female birds look alike. Young birds do not have the crest. Their heads are darker, and their wings are duller.
The crested cuckoo-dove eats fruit found in the tops of trees. It is usually seen alone or in pairs. Only one nest has ever been found. It was on a cliff in November 1995. Nests contain a single egg. Both parents take turns sitting on the egg. This dove is listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This is because its population is thought to be small. Its numbers are decreasing due to widespread cutting down of trees in lowland forests.
Contents
About the Crested Cuckoo-Dove
Naming and History
The crested cuckoo-dove was first described in 1856. An English bird expert named John Gould gave it the name Turacoena crassirostris. He studied a bird from Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Later, in 1876, an Italian zoologist moved it to the group (genus) called Reinwardtoena.
The name Reinwardtoena honors a Dutch scientist, Caspar Georg Carl Reinwardt. It combines his name with an ancient Greek word for "pigeon." The second part of its scientific name, crassirostris, comes from Latin words. Crassus means "thick," and rostris means "billed." So, its name means "thick-billed Reinwardt's pigeon."
The official common name for this bird is the crested cuckoo-dove. This name was chosen by the International Ornithologists' Union. People also call it the crested pigeon or crested long-tailed pigeon. In the Duke language of Kolombangara, it is known as ngumúlu.
The crested cuckoo-dove is one of three species in the Reinwardtoena group. It is quite different from the other two. For a while, it was placed in its own group called Coryphoenas. But in 1983, a British bird expert decided it belonged back in Reinwardtoena. This bird does not have any different types (subspecies).
What Does It Look Like?
The crested cuckoo-dove is a large and strong pigeon. It measures about 40–42 centimeters (16–17 inches) long. Its most special feature is its long, pale purplish-grey crest. This crest is made of feathers that look like hair on its head and neck. When the bird sits, this crest stands up at a 45-degree angle.
Its head is pale purplish-grey. The throat is a light greyish-buff color. This color turns bluish-grey towards its chest and neck. Its belly, upper back, and wings are a darker bluish-black. The tail is blackish. Some birds might have a slight yellowish-brown tint on their chest and belly.
The outer tail feathers have a pale grey band near their base. This band is widest on the outermost feathers. The bird's eyes are yellow. They are surrounded by a ring of red skin. Its bill is reddish with a yellow tip. The bill is strongly hooked. Its legs are red. Male and female adult birds look the same.
Young birds are different. They do not have the crest. Their heads are darker. Their wings are duller. Most of their feathers also have rust-colored edges.
This bird is fairly easy to recognize. However, it can sometimes be mistaken for other birds. When it flies, its crest is held flat. This makes it hard to see. So, the pale mountain pigeon might be confused with it. The mountain pigeon does not have a crest. It also has a thinner beak, longer wings, and a shorter tail.
What Does It Sound Like?
The crested cuckoo-dove has a special call. It is a sad, whistling sound: wha...whuaaw...wha...whuaaw. Some people describe it as a hoo-woooahha. The first note goes up in pitch. The second note is longer and slurred. It goes up then falls and fades away. This call can be heard from far away. It sounds similar across all the places the bird lives.
Males make a similar call when they are trying to attract a female. They slowly move their head forward with each call. These calls are sometimes made while the bird sits on a high branch in the treetops.
Where It Lives
The crested cuckoo-dove lives only in the Solomon Islands. You can find it in valleys on many islands. These include Bougainville, Choiseul, Santa Isabel, Kolombangara, New Georgia, Vangunu, Nggatokae, Rendova, Guadalcanal, Malaita, Makira, Three Sisters, and Ugi.
It lives in forests, areas where new trees are growing, and at the edges of forests. It prefers hill forests. These are usually at elevations of 500–900 meters (about 1,600–3,000 feet). It usually lives up to 1,100 meters (about 3,600 feet) high. But on Guadalcanal, it can be found up to 1,500 meters (about 4,900 feet) high. Scientists think it might migrate, but this has not been proven.
How It Lives
The crested cuckoo-dove is seen alone or in pairs. It flies fast and straight. It eats fruits, especially from trees like Osmoxylon and Schefflera. It usually looks for food in the tops of trees. But sometimes, it comes down to the ground to eat.
We do not know much about how this pigeon raises its young. The only known nest was found in November 1995. It was on a cliff next to a river on Choiseul Island. The nest was mostly made of twigs. Nests contain only one egg. Both parents take turns sitting on the egg to keep it warm.
Its Conservation Status
The crested cuckoo-dove is listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This means it could become threatened in the future. It is not very common across the islands where it lives. It lives in low numbers. However, its numbers can be higher in some areas.
It is widespread on Santa Isabel. It is fairly common on Kolombangara, Guadalcanal, and San Cristobal. But it is rare on Bougainville. We do not know its exact population size. However, it is believed to be moderately small and getting smaller. The main reason for this is widespread cutting down of trees in lowland forests.
The populations in lowlands are thought to be decreasing quickly. But those in hillier areas are likely declining more slowly. Hunting is also a threat to this bird. However, its effect on the total population is thought to be small.
