Pink Pigeon
© Phillip Coffey,JWPT |
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Creature Profile
The pink pigeon is a very rare bird found on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, and it is said to be the largest of all pigeon and dove species. Adults can reach up to 12.6 inches in length from beak to tail and weigh about 12 ounces. As its name suggests, the pink pigeon has light pink feathers, with brown wings, and a dark pink bill, legs and feet. The tail is brown and the eyes are also brown and surrounded by a ring of red skin.
These birds prefer upland evergreen forests for their habitat. They are often seen feeding and roosting in small flocks. Diet consists of flowers, fruits, buds, leaves, and seeds of native and exotic vegetation in the area. During breeding season (August to September), males and females form as pairs, build nests, and defend their territory. Females give birth to one to two eggs, and they are incubated for 14 days. The male incubates the eggs during the day, and the female incubates them during the night and early day.
There are an estimated 20 of these birds left in the wild, and 200 in captivity. This species is threatened by predation by introduced species (such as wild cats), and also disease and poaching. The Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust was established in 1963 and is devoted to the captive breeding of the species to aid its survival.
Wikipedia Article
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Wikipedia Article Copyright Notice: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Pink pigeon". |
May 11, 2017
Glenn, C. R. 2006. "Earth's Endangered Creatures - Pink Pigeon Facts" (Online). Accessed 3/25/2023 at http://earthsendangered.com/profile.asp?sp=369&ID=1.
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