Pigeons and Doves

Luzon Bleeding-Heart Dove

Gallicolumba luzonica

These beautiful little doves get their name from the deep red spot of feathers over their breast and for their native lands, the Philippine Islands of Luzon and Polillo. The wound coloration that these birds naturally have on their feathers is the most realistic looking wound coloration of any bird species.

Like the crowned pigeons, they have a varied diet of nuts, seeds and insects. They also spend most of their time on the ground, even nesting low, about five or six feet off the ground. They lay two eggs each breeding season, while most other species of bleeding heart dove only lay one. In the wild they live to be about seven, but in captivity they have been known to live to be 25 years old or more!

The latin name of this bird is where Luzonica got its name!

Luzonica

Luzonica is our little Luzon Bleeding-heart dove. She gets nervous around strangers, but once she gets to know you she wants to be touched and petted. She occasionally comes out with us to talks, though in front of a crowd she just wants to hide. We know that she's a girl because she has occasionally laid eggs! (we do not have a second dove so the eggs are not fertile)

Victoria Crowned Pigeon

Goura victoria

Blue Crowned Pigeon

Goura cristata

Victoria Crowned Pigeons and Blue Crowned Pigeons are the largest and also the most endangered pigeons in the world. About the size of chickens, these birds are native to New Guinea and spend most of their time on the ground or in low shrubs. They have been driven to near-extinction by habitat loss and being hunted for their meat, their feathers, and for the pet industry. Further complicating their status in the wild is the fact that they typically only lay one egg each breeding period and they can be difficult to raise in captivity. There are, however, many captive breeding programs aimed at releasing captive raised, healthy birds back into New Guinea. Like pigeons native to North America (Band-Tailed Pigeons), Crowned Pigeons eat a variety of things found on forest floors. Nuts, seeds, and insects make their primary diet.

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

This slender bodied dove is smaller than our city pigeons (Rock Doves) and bigger than our native Mourning Doves. It is often seen in the wild, but is not native to the United States. These doves come from Europe and Asia and are commonly used in wedding dove-releases. Though their natural color is a dusty tan with pink legs, red eyes and a black bar at the back of their neck, they have been bred in captivity to sometimes come in an all white coloration. Eurasian Collared Doves are similar in appearance to Ring-necked Doves, which are native to Africa. The two species can be easily told apart by their calls, with the Ring-necked Dove making a soft purring sound and the Eurasian Collared Dove making distinctive cooing sounds. Eurasian Collared Doves also make sort of a whistly laughing sound.

The Eurasian Collared Dove is the mascot of the Saitama prefecture in Japan, an area of the country located slightly north of the Tokyo region.

Photograph © Erin Koski 2011

Raymond

Raymond was found in a housing complex after probably being attacked by a dog or cat. Most of his tail feathers had been pulled out, leading the woman who found him to think he might be a baby, with such a short tail. He was stressed out from the attack and was generally very tame. Since coming to Luzonica, he has grown his tail feathers out again and is now feeling his oats! He had to be separated from our Luzon Bleeding-heart dove, as he was being too pushy, and is not happy being handled. He will, however, hang out in a display avairy and let people view him without touching. He coos a lot and laughs if he's being pushy. He has gorgeous red eyes!