Southern/Scheepmaker's and Sclater's Crowned Pigeons Goura scheepmakeri/sclaterii

The Southern or Scheepmaker's Crowned Pigeon is one of four species of Crowned Pigeons. Sclater's Crowned Pigeon was previously included with Scheepmaker's but has been split out as a separate species around 2015. DNA studies in 2018 place it closer to its Western relative whereas Scheepmaker's is closer to the Victoria. Both are native to lowland forests of southern New Guinea. They are one of the three largest pigeons in the world at some 75 cm (nearly 30 inches) length; the other is the Victoria Crowned Pigeon which some claim is larger.

They do not have feathered tips to their crests like the Victoria and no white on the crest. They have no black chinstrap. They have a maroon chest that comes all the way up to the front of the neck, unlike the other Crowned Pigeons. The white wing bar is broader than the Common and whiter than the Victoria. Male and female have similar plumage.

There are subtle plumage differences between the Sclater's (immediately above) and the Scheepmaker's (immediately below). The Scheepmaker's is said to have more extensive maroon on the underside from neck to belly and has a less scaly appearance of the grey back plumage (lacking the slight pale edging to the feathers).

Scheepmaker's (immediately above) may also have a slightly longer crest. Both are sociable, ground-dwelling pigeons.

Hunting for their lacy plumes, for meat and for captive trade in addition to habitat destruction have made them vulnerable.