VICTORIA CROWNED PIGEON BRANDED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND LARGEST PIGEON IN THE WORLD
The majority of people who are only familiar with city pigeons don't necessarily think they are attractive birds. There are, however, a few surprising beauties among the world's more than 300 species of pigeons and doves. The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) is arguably the most fascinating species of pigeon. This gorgeous bird, with its sophisticated feather crest on its head, might be regarded as the pigeon world's supermodel.
The pigeon, which is native to New Guinea, bears Queen Victoria's name, the illustrious British monarch of the 19th century. The large ground-dwelling pigeon has maroon breasts, deep blue-grey feathers, and a black mask with brilliant red eyes punctuated in it. But its crest is what sets it apart. The Victoria crowned pigeon is one of three species of crowned pigeons, distinguished by its distinct crest topped with feathers with white tips. The pigeon's magnificent plumes contribute to its graceful, regal appearance.
Actually, what sets the Victoria crowned pigeon apart from the other two crowned pigeon species is its white-tipped crest.
The Scheepmaker's crowned pigeon (Goura scheepmakeri) and the western crowned pigeon (Goura cristata) share a similar appearance, but the latter has a more unkempt crown that resembles a nest of hair. The Victoria crowned pigeon is the largest surviving species of pigeon, although all crowned pigeons are larger than other pigeon species. Compared to other pigeons, they are enormous, weighing up to 7.7 pounds and reaching lengths of up to 30 inches. In contrast, the common pigeon, also known as the rock dove, is smaller and weighs less than one pound.
It's amazing how much food the Victoria-crowned pigeons must have to consume to gain that much weight, considering that their diet consists solely of fallen fruit (they adore figs). Actually, given their size, they resemble medium-sized chickens rather than typical pigeons.
When searching for food, these gregarious birds usually travel in pairs or groups because they enjoy company. Unless they are disturbed, they will stroll along the forest floor and gather fruit. Then, as they soar upward into the trees for cover, they will clap loudly. Regretfully, Victoria crowned pigeons are becoming less common in the wild due in large part to their attractiveness, which makes them the most popular crowned species to keep in captivity.
These magnificent birds face threats from people who hunt them for their meat and feathers, as well as from logging, which is gradually destroying their habitat. In fact, because of overhunting, they are rarely found close to populated areas. On the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, they are currently categorised as "Near Threatened."