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Description:
Nicobar Pigeons are 15-17 inches long. Their plumage is dark
overall, with a contrasting white tail. They have a “mane” of long,
hair-like feathers around the neck. The long neck feathers, called
hackles, are black with purple iridescence. The upperparts are dark
green, and the underparts are iridescent green and blue. Their beak is
black with an enlarged cere (fleshy swelling around the base of the
beak). Males and juveniles have brown eyes, while females have white
eyes. Females also have shorter hackles and are browner overall.
Juveniles do not have hackles, and they are entirely brownish black,
including the tail.
Range:
Pacific islands from the Nicobar Islands to New Guinea and the
Solomons
Habitat:
Mangroves and lowland forests of small islands
Diet:
In the wild, they eat fruit and seeds. In the zoo, our pigeons
eat scratch mix, Zupreem bird diet, and fresh fruit.
Life
Cycle:
The breeding season for Nicobar Pigeons varies throughout their
range, but is usually very long. On some islands, pairs begin nesting in
June, and some birds continue nesting until January. Males display by
puffing out their iridescent feathers and bowing to the females. They
nest in colonies on small offshore islands, sometimes gathering in huge
flocks containing thousands of pairs. The nest is an untidy platform of
twigs placed at least 10 feet above the ground. Females lay one white egg
per clutch, and both parents incubate. The hatchling has black skin and
little or no down. It is fed crop-milk by both parents, and fledges after
about 1 month.
Did You Know?
·
Nicobar Pigeons are very nomadic. They travel between many
small off-shore islands to feed, sometimes reaching larger islands or the
mainland. Their flight is swift and powerful, and they can fly long
distances without resting.
·
They are probably crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk). In
especially dark, shady places, they may be active during the day.
·
As people move onto small islands where Nicobar Pigeons
nest, the birds’ habitat is lost and predators are introduced. The best
way to protect this species is to limit development on the islands where
they nest.
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