Nicobar Pigeon
Nicobar Pigeon
Caloenas nicobarica
Nicobar Pigeon
Nicobar Pigeon
Caloenas nicobarica
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Class
Aves -
Order
Columbiformes -
Familly
Columbidae
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35-40cm
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500-600g
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20 days
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1
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up to 20 years in zoo
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Diet
fruit, berries, grains, insects -
Habitat
mangroves and forests -
Range
Nicobar Islands west of the Malay peninsula, as far as the Solomon Islands to the east and the Philippines to the north -
Population in the wild
En diminution -
IUCN REDLIST status
This species is monogamous, with couples mating for life.
Males and female Nicobar Pigeons take turns incubating the egg. When the chick is first born, the parents feed it by means of regurgitation. After a few days, the chick starts to swallow its first fruit and grains. In less than a month, it can look after itself.
Nicobar Pigeons have particularly muscular gizzards that allow them to grind very hard nuts.
Despite being an endangered species, they are still hunted for their meat and for illegal trade. They are seriously endangered by the introduction of invasive species (rats, cats) to their territories.