Order Columbiformes Genus Goura Mass 2.1 kg (Adult) Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Scientific name Goura cristata Higher classification Crowned pigeon Length 70 cm (Adult) | |
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Similar Crowned pigeon, Bird, Pigeons and doves, Southern crowned pigeon, Victoria crowned pigeon | ||
The western crowned pigeon, also known as the common crowned pigeon or blue crowned pigeon (Goura cristata) is a large, blue-grey pigeon with blue lacy crests over the head and dark blue mask feathers around its eyes. Both sexes are almost similar but males are often larger than females. It is on average 70 cm (28 in) long and weighs 2,100 grams (4.6 lbs).
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Along with its close and very similar looking relatives the Victoria crowned pigeon and the southern crowned pigeon, it is one of the largest and is considered one of the most beautiful members of the pigeon family. The western crowned pigeon is found in and is endemic to the lowland rainforests of Papua, Indonesia section of New Guinea; the other species of crowned pigeon inhabit different regions of the island. The diet consists mainly of fruits and seeds.
Hunted for food and its plumes, it remains common only in remote areas. Due to ongoing habitat loss, limited range and overhunting in some areas, the western crowned pigeon is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed in Appendix II of CITES.
The western crowned pigeon was first described by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas in 1764 and given the binomial name Columba cristata.
Western crowned pigeons
Emblem
The western crowned pigeon is the official provincial bird of West Papua, and it appears on its coat of arms.