Maroon-breasted Crowned Pigeon

Description:

Considered vulnerable ecologically, the Southern Crowned Pigeon (Goura scheepmakeri) is a large, terrestrial pigeon confined to southern lowland forests of New Guinea. It has a bluish-grey plumage with elaborate blue lacy crests, red iris and very deep maroon breast. Both sexes have a similar appearance. It is on average 70 cm (28 in) long and weighs 2,250 grams (5 lbs). There are two subspecies of the Southern Crowned Pigeon (called Maroon-breasted Crowned Pigeon in Hong Kong) 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.

Habitat:

Seen in the Edward Youde Aviary, Hong Kong.

Notes:

The Edward Youde Aviary (尤德觀鳥園) is a 3,000-square-metre (32,000 sq ft) aviary built over a natural valley at the southern corner of Hong Kong Park which is located in Central at the bottom of the north eastern slope of Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. It has a highest point of 46.5 metres (153 ft) and a lowest point of 30 metres (98 ft) above sea level. This walk-though aviary features a collection of 800 birds representing 100 species indigenous to Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and New Guinea.