Nicobar PigeonScientific name : Caloenas Nicobarica
Common name: Nicobar Pigeon or Dove SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Aves ORDER: Columbiformes FAMILY: Columbidae GENUS: Caloenas The Nicobar Pigeon is a one of the largest pigeon species and it is the closest bird to a Dodo bird. Also the Nicobar Pigeon is the only bird in its genus. |
BODY COVERINGSince the Nicobar Pigeon is a bird, the body is covered in feathers. It has beautiful variety of different colours of feathers. These colours include different shades of green, blue,yellow, red and orange.
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RELATIVE SIZEThe Nicobar Pigeon weighs approximately 613 grams and is 40- 41 cm in length. However the female Nicobar Pigeon is smaller and weighs less than the male pigeons but slightly heavier than male pigeons.
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BEHAVIORThe Nicobar Pigeon are a very nomadic bird and they are active at dawn and dusk. These Pigeons make sounds that is lower pitched than other average birds would make. The Nicobar Pigeon are a mild bird and isn't a trouble.
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DIET
Nicobar pigeons eat seeds, often from harvested grain, fruit and some invertebrates such as worms.
WHERE ARE THEY FOUND
Nicobar Bar Pigeons are found in the Southeast Asia and from India eastward, New Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. They are found in the wild, places like lowland forests.
ENCLOSURE
The Nicobar Pigeons in the Taronga Zoo lives in an open space where visitors can interact with birds although has a small habitat, it has lots of plants and rocks surrounding it. The Nicobar Pigeon has a small habitat with lots of plants surrounding the bird and rocks. It has an open space where visitors can interact physically. However the Nicobar Pigeons are with small other birds and locked up so it is secure and for public safety.
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FEATURES
FEATURE NO.1
One of the feature of a Nicobar bar pigeon is their feet. Without feet, these cannot walk or even pick up worms from the ground.
Not only is it a problem to only birds, not any other animals can walk. The Nicobar Pigeons have a unique looking feet because it has scaly and really dry looking skin and pointy yellow nails. The red plastic bracelet is for the zoo to indicate that they are their birds and will know which bird got lost. |
FEATURE NO.2
FEATURE NO.3
Another feature is, when the pigeon is near a predator or is scared, the outlined parts lift up like a frill- necked lizard. It is a method to scare away other animals and that is a useful thing when living in the wild with size bigger than the Nicobar Pigeons.
Instead like other birds, the Nicobar Pigeons like to run instead of fly. This places them in a territorial prey. |