Victoria Crowned Pigeon Goura victoria
The Victoria Crowned Pigeon is one of four species of Crowned Pigeons. It is native to lowland forests of northern New Guinea.
It is one of the two largest pigeons in the world at some 75 cm (nearly 30 inches) length; the other is its relative the Southern Crowned Pigeon
which some claim is larger.
The Victoria Crowned (named after Queen Victoria) is distinguished by the feathered tips to its crest and its midway maroon chest.
Male and female have similar plumage.
Its iris is red and the area around the eye is black extending to a stripe below its beak like a chinstrap to keep on its crested bonnet.
A similar size to a pheasant, it fulfils the same niche (together with the Pheasant-pigeons) since there are no pheasants in New Guinea.
Size comparison with Zebra Dove.
The thin head-on view of the crest.
Sunbathing - showing white and burgundy wing bar.
Links:
More Victoria Crowned Pigeons
VCP on nest with chick
Common Crowned Pigeon
Southern Crowned Pigeon (Scheepmaker's/Sclater's)