Western Crowned Pigeon

Goura cristata

Range

• Northwestern New Guinea

Habitat

• Forests

Diet

• Fruits
• Seeds

These imposing blue birds are the largest pigeons in the world. Often reaching the size of a turkey, they are hunted as food and their colorful plumage.

The three species of crowned pigeons, differentiated only by slight color variations, are all found on or near New Guinea. Individuals were first brought to Europe by 1771; the Paris zoo produced the first hatchlings in 1850.