Goura scheepmakeri

General description: 

It has a bluish-grey plumage with elaborate blue lacy crests, red iris and very deep maroon breast. Both sexes are similar. There are two subspecies of the Southern Crowned Pigeon, differentiated by their shoulder and belly colorations. Goura scheepmakeri sclateri of southwest New Guinea with maroon shoulders and blue-grey belly, and the nominate race Goura scheepmakeri scheepmakeri of southeast New Guinea with blue-grey shoulders and maroon below. This species was first discovered new to science by Otto Finsch who found a live bird received from the dealer C. Scheepmaker in Amsterdam Zoo and named it after him. The striking headdress of blue-grey, lacy feathers is the southern crowned-pigeon’s most prominent feature, with the rest of the plumage also primarily blue-grey, and its breast and belly a rich maroon. A black ‘mask’ sits around the red eyes and its legs and feet are purplish-red

Conservation status: 

Vulnerable

Diagnostic description: 

It has a bluish-grey plumage with elaborate blue lacy crests, red iris and very deep maroon breast. Both sexes are similar. There are two subspecies of the Southern Crowned Pigeon, differentiated by their shoulder and belly colorations. Goura scheepmakeri sclateri of southwest New Guinea with maroon shoulders and blue-grey belly, and the nominate race Goura scheepmakeri scheepmakeri of southeast New Guinea with blue-grey shoulders and maroon below. This species was first discovered new to science by Otto Finsch who found a live bird received from the dealer C. Scheepmaker in Amsterdam Zoo and named it after him. The striking headdress of blue-grey, lacy feathers is the southern crowned-pigeon’s most prominent feature, with the rest of the plumage also primarily blue-grey, and its breast and belly a rich maroon. A black ‘mask’ sits around the red eyes and its legs and feet are purplish-red

Behaviour: 

Phylogeny: 

Taxonomy:

    Goura scheepmakeri Finsch, 1876, probably south New Guinea opposite Yule Island. Members of genus unique amongst pigeons in having no gallbladder; also lack oil-gland and have reticulate scaling on the strong, thick legs; 16 rectrices; they have no obvious close relatives. Present species probably more closely related to G. cristata than to G. victoria. Two subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Distribution: 

Subspecies and Distribution:

    * sclaterii Salvadori, 1876 - S New Guinea from R Mimika E to R Fly. * scheepmakeri Finsch, 1876 - S coast of SE New Guinea from Hall Sound and Mt Epa E to Orangerie Bay.
Habitat: 

The southern crowned-pigeon inhabits dry and flooded forest, from the flat floodplains up to 500 metres in the foothills A fairly sociable species, the southern crowned-pigeon is usually encountered in small groups of three to seven individuals, although large flocks of up to 30 have been observed in the past.

Trophic strategy: 

They search on the forest floor for fallen fruits and seeds, and also feed on small crabs found on muddy river banks.

Reproduction: 

Breeding in the southern crowned-pigeon has been observed from September to early November, but the breeding season is probably longer than this. A well-built, neat nest made of sticks, dead stems and palm leaves with a shallow depression lined with leaves, is situated 4 to 15 metres above ground on a tree branch. Into this nest a single, white egg is laid. Like other pigeons, the southern crowned pigeon produces crop-milk, a nutritious secretion from the lining of the crop, which is regurgitated to feed the chick

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith