Western crowned pigeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Western crowned pigeon |
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_in_TMII_Birdpark.jpg) |
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| At Taman Mini Indonesia Indah Birdpark, Jakarta, Indonesia | |
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| Genus: |
Goura
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| Species: |
cristata
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The western crowned pigeon (Goura cristata) is a very large and beautiful bird. It is also known as the common crowned pigeon or blue crowned pigeon. This amazing bird has blue-grey feathers and a special lacy blue crest on its head. It also has dark blue feathers around its eyes, like a mask!
Both male and female western crowned pigeons look quite similar. However, males are usually a bit bigger than females. These pigeons can grow to be about 70 centimeters (28 inches) long. They can weigh around 2.1 kilograms (4.6 pounds).
This pigeon is one of the biggest members of the pigeon family. It lives in the lowland rainforests of northwestern New Guinea. Other types of crowned pigeons live in different parts of the island. The western crowned pigeon mainly eats fruits and seeds.
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About the Western Crowned Pigeon
The western crowned pigeon is related to other large pigeons. These include the Victoria crowned pigeon, Sclater's crowned pigeon, and Scheepmaker's crowned pigeon. They all look very similar. This pigeon is special because it is endemic to northwestern New Guinea. This means it is only found naturally in that area.
The German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas first described this bird in 1764. He gave it the scientific name Columba cristata.
Why Are These Pigeons Special?
Western crowned pigeons are known for their stunning looks. Their blue-grey feathers and unique crest make them stand out. They spend most of their time on the forest floor. They search for fallen fruits and seeds to eat.
Protecting These Amazing Birds
Sadly, the western crowned pigeon is a Vulnerable species. This means it needs our help to survive. People have hunted these birds for their meat and beautiful feathers. Their homes, the rainforests, are also shrinking.
Because of these problems, they are now only common in areas far away from people. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists them as Vulnerable. They are also listed in Appendix II of CITES. This means their trade is controlled to protect them.
Western Crowned Pigeons in Culture
These beautiful birds are important in the culture of New Guinea.
- The mambruk ubiaat, which is another name for the western crowned pigeon, is on the coat of arms of Manokwari Regency. This area is in West Papua, Indonesia.
- The western crowned pigeon was shown on Indonesian postage stamps in 1968.
- This pigeon also appears on the coat of arms of a proposed Republic of West Papua.
- In the video game Angry Birds Stella, there is a character named Willow. She is a western crowned pigeon and wears a striped hat to hide her crest!
Images for kids
