Dwarf fruit dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dwarf fruit dove |
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| Conservation status | |
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Ptilinopus
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| Species: |
nainus
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The dwarf fruit dove (scientific name: Ptilinopus nainus) is a tiny bird that belongs to the Columbidae family, which includes pigeons and doves. You can find this special bird living in the lowlands and foothill forests of New Guinea and the Raja Ampat Islands. It's super light, weighing only about 49 grams – that's like two AA batteries! This little dove is the shortest bird in the entire fruit dove group.
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What Does the Dwarf Fruit Dove Look Like?
The dwarf fruit dove is the shortest pigeon or dove in the world. It measures about 13 to 15 centimeters (5.1 to 5.9 inches) long. Even though it's short, it's quite plump, so some other dove species actually weigh less.
Its feathers are mostly green. However, it has bright yellow feathers under its tail. It also has thin bars on its wings. The feathers on the inside of its wings and its secondary flight feathers are more bluish. This bluish-green color is easiest to see on its scapulars. These are the body feathers that cover the top of the wing when the bird is resting.
Male vs. Female Doves
Male and female dwarf fruit doves look a bit different. Males have a dark purple patch on their belly. They also tend to have a gray patch on both sides of their upper chest. Both males and females have a yellowish-green beak and purplish-red legs. They also have a yellow area on their lower belly and under their tail.
Young dwarf fruit doves look like the females. But they have yellow edges on most of their feathers. These yellow edges disappear as they grow older. Then, the young birds start to look like the adult males or females. These doves are often seen in pairs. Sometimes, they even hang out with other types of fruit doves.
How Dwarf Fruit Doves Communicate
Dwarf fruit doves talk to each other using a special sound. It's a high-pitched, slow, soft, and long "up slur." After a one-second pause, they repeat the sound about six times. Their call sounds a bit like "oh-wah."
Where Do Dwarf Fruit Doves Live?
The dwarf fruit dove lives in forests. You can find them in the lowlands and foothills of New Guinea. However, they are not found in northwestern New Guinea or the north coast of southeastern New Guinea. They also live in the Raja Ampat Islands, which are off the coast of Northwestern New Guinea.
These birds are most often found in hills up to 1,100 meters (about 3,600 feet) high. You can also spot them in Varirata National Park in New Guinea.
Dwarf Fruit Dove Life and Habits
Reproduction and Nests
Dwarf fruit dove nests have been found in September and November. These nests are built in small trees. They can be found at different heights, from 3 meters (about 10 feet) to 12 meters (about 39 feet) above the ground. The female bird builds the nest. She uses twigs and dead leaves that the male bird collects for her.
What Do Dwarf Fruit Doves Eat?
The dwarf fruit dove's diet is mostly fruit. About 90 percent of what they eat is fruit. The other 10 percent comes from nectar. This means the dwarf fruit dove is a frugivore (fruit-eater) and a nectarivore (nectar-eater).
Dwarf Fruit Dove Population Status
The dwarf fruit dove has a stable population. This means their numbers are not changing much over time. It is not considered a globally threatened species. The IUCN Red List places it in the "Least Concern" category. This means they are not at risk of disappearing.
The dwarf fruit dove is not common, but it's not super rare either. We don't know the exact number of these birds in the world. Some dwarf fruit doves stay in one place, like in Port Moresby, New Guinea. Others move around, like those in Tabubil.
When scientists studied 8 dwarf fruit doves in captivity, they noticed something interesting. These doves only ate figs while they were being watched.
