Red-moustached fruit dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-moustached fruit dove |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Ptilinopus
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| Species: |
mercierii
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The red-moustached fruit dove (Ptilinopus mercierii) was a beautiful bird that is now extinct. This means there are no more of these birds left alive anywhere in the world. It belonged to the Columbidae family, which includes doves and pigeons.
This special bird lived only in a place called French Polynesia, which is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. The last time anyone saw one was in 1922. Scientists believe it disappeared because of new animals brought to its home, like great horned owls, rats, and cats. These animals hunted the doves. In 1994, the red-moustached fruit dove was officially listed as an extinct species by the IUCN Red List.
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What Did the Red-Moustached Fruit Dove Look Like?
This dove was about 21 to 23 centimeters (8 to 9 inches) long. That's roughly the size of a small ruler.
Colors and Features of the Dove
- Its head, chest, and neck were a pretty bluish-grey color.
- Its tail was short and almost square-shaped.
- The feathers on its belly and underparts were a bright golden yellow.
- Young doves had less yellow on the back of their neck and on their head.
- Their chest feathers were slightly green with light yellow edges.
- The feathers under their tail were yellowish-white.
The red-moustached fruit dove looked a lot like another bird called the white-capped fruit dove (Ptilinopus dupetithouarsii).
Where Did the Red-Moustached Fruit Dove Live?
The red-moustached fruit dove was found only in the Marquesas Islands. These islands are part of French Polynesia.
Specific Islands and Habitats
- One type of this dove lived on Nuku Hiva Island.
- Another type, called P. m. tristrami, lived on Hiva Oa Island.
These doves were known to live in trees, which means they were arboreal. They preferred to live in mountain forests, usually at higher elevations than other doves. They were found at least 1,370 meters (4,500 feet) above sea level.
Why Did the Red-Moustached Fruit Dove Disappear?
In 1988, the red-moustached fruit dove was first listed as an endangered species. This meant it was in danger of disappearing forever. However, by 1994, it was sadly declared extinct.
Main Reasons for Extinction
The main reasons for its extinction were:
- Rats: Rats were brought to the islands by humans and hunted the doves' eggs and young.
- Cats: Cats, also brought by humans, hunted the adult doves.
- Great Horned Owls: These large owls (Bubo virginianus) were introduced to the islands and became a new predator for the doves.
The last time anyone saw this bird was in 1922, on the island of Hiva Oa in French Polynesia. This shows how important it is to protect animals from new threats in their homes.
Images for kids
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A drawing of the Red-moustached fruit dove.
