
Photo: Stock Photos from
Ruth Choi/Shutterstock
Over 300 species of pigeons and doves on
the globe, some of them are unexpectedly beautiful. When compared to other
pigeon species, the Victoria crowned
pigeon (Goura Victoria) is the most intriguing.
This gorgeous bird may be regarded as the
supermodel of the pigeon world, with a beautiful crest of feathers on its head.
The pigeon, which is native to New
Guinea, is named after Queen Victoria the renowned 19th-century British ruler.
Deep blue-grey feathers, a maroon breast, and a black mask accented by vivid
red eyes characterize this huge ground-dwelling pigeon. But it's the crest that
truly sets it apart. The Victoria crowned pigeon is one of three species of crowned
pigeons with a distinct crest capped with white-tipped feathers. The pigeon's
magnificent feathers contribute to its exquisite, royal look.
The Victoria crowned pigeon is
distinguished from the other two species of crowned pigeons by its white-tipped
crest. The western crowned pigeon (Goura cristata) and Scheepmaker's crowned
pigeon (Goura scheepmakeri) have a scraggly crown that resembles a nest of
hair, despite their similar appearance.

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bierchen/Shutterstock
Although all crowned pigeons are bigger
than other pigeons, the Victoria crowned pigeon is the biggest living species.
They are enormous pigeons, weighing up to 7.7 pounds and measuring up to 30
inches in length. The common pigeon, also known as the rock dove, is just half
as long and weighs less than a pound. Given that Victoria crowned pigeons eat
fallen fruits, they especially enjoy figs. It’s remarkable how much food they
must consume to gain that much weight. In reality, their size is more
comparable to that of a medium-sized chicken than a pigeon.
These sociable birds prefer to travel in
couples or groups when foraging for food. Unless disturbed, they'll wander
along the forest floor picking fruit. Then, when they fly up into the trees for
protection they'll create a loud clapping noise. Victoria crowned pigeons are
becoming increasingly uncommon in the natural, owing to their beauty which
makes them the most popular crowned species in captivity.
These magnificent birds are steadily
losing habitat owing to deforestation, and they are also being hunted for their
feathers and meat. Owing to overhunting they are rarely encountered in
inhabited areas. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, they are presently classified as "Near
Threatened."
The Victoria crowned pigeon is a huge
bird with a beautiful feather crest.

Photo: Stock Photos from
apiguide/Shutterstock

Photo: Stock Photos from
vespaFoto/Shutterstock
These graceful birds are native to New Guinea, although they are currently mostly found in captivity.

Photo: Stock Photos from
apiguide/Shutterstock

Photo: Stock Photos from
MyImages – Micha/Shutterstock
Two additional species of crowned pigeon
appear similar but have a less pronounced crest.

Western
crowned pigeon (Photo: Stock Photos from Alexandre Tziripouloff/Shutterstock)

Western
crowned pigeon (Photo: Stock Photos from Danny Ye/Shutterstock)

Scheepmaker's
crowned pigeon (Photo: Stock Photos from Anky/Shutterstock)

Scheepmaker's crowned pigeon (Photo: Stock Photos from Stephen Barnes/Shutterstock)
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