Pink-headed fruit dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pink-headed fruit dove |
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| Taken at Louisville Zoo | |
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| Genus: |
Ptilinopus
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| Species: |
porphyreus
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The pink-headed fruit dove (Ptilinopus porphyreus) is a small, very colorful bird from the dove family. It is also known as the pink-necked fruit dove or Temminck's fruit pigeon. These doves are known for their bright colors, especially their pink heads!
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Where Pink-Headed Fruit Doves Live
The pink-headed fruit dove lives only in Indonesia. It is an endemic bird, which means it is found naturally in just one specific area. You can find these doves in the mountain forests of Sumatra, Java, and Bali. They like to live in high places, usually between 1000 and 2200 meters (about 3,300 to 7,200 feet) above sea level.
Their Home and Family Life
These doves build a simple nest in a tree. The nest is often a bit flimsy. The female dove usually lays one or sometimes two white eggs. The parents take turns sitting on the eggs for about 20 days until they hatch. After hatching, the baby doves stay in the nest for another 15 to 16 days until they are ready to fly.
Pink-headed fruit doves are quite shy. They are often hard to spot because they blend in well with the trees. You will usually see them alone or in pairs. However, sometimes larger groups of up to 17 doves gather together at trees that have lots of their favorite fruits.
What Pink-Headed Fruit Doves Look Like
The male pink-headed fruit dove is very striking. It has a bright purple-pink head, neck, and throat. Below this pink area, there is a white band with a greenish-black outline. Their upper body is green, and their belly is grey. The feathers under their tail are yellow. They have orange eyes, a greenish beak, and pink feet.
The female dove is not as brightly colored as the male. Her breast band is also less noticeable. Young doves look even duller than the females. When these doves make a sound, it is a soft "hoo" call.
What Pink-Headed Fruit Doves Eat
Pink-headed fruit doves love to eat. They mostly feed on figs, small fruits, and berries. They find their food high up in the forest canopy, which is the top layer of the trees. Their green feathers help them hide among the leaves while they are eating.
Protecting Pink-Headed Fruit Doves
The pink-headed fruit dove lives in a limited area of forest. This area is less than 12,000 square kilometers (about 4,600 square miles). They are found in three places on Sumatra, sixteen on Java, and one on Bali. They always live in forested mountains that are at least 2000 meters high. Many of these forest areas are getting smaller.
Even though their habitat is shrinking, the pink-headed fruit dove is currently listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means that experts do not think they are in immediate danger of disappearing. They are very good at hiding, which makes them hard to count.
However, there have been some concerns. In the past, it was rare to see these doves for sale. But in 2022, many pink-headed fruit doves were seen being offered for sale online in Indonesia. This shows that people need to be careful to protect these beautiful birds and their homes.
Images for kids
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A pink-headed fruit dove perched on a branch.
