Blue pigeon
Mauritius pigeon ( Alectroenas nitidissima ) †
Blue Fruit Dove ( Alectroenas ) are a genus of pigeons birds. The genus includes five species, two of which are extinct. Both Mauritius and the Rodrigues fruit dove pigeon reported at the beginning of the 19th century to low population numbers. Cause of stock decline was hunting, habitat destruction and the Nestplünderung by introduced species such as rats and cynomolgus monkeys. Both species became extinct in the early decades of the 19th century. The still -living species are considered to be safely and are classified by the IUCN as Least Concern.
Appearance
As with most fruit pigeons characteristic of this genus is body round and heavy. However, they are not particularly large species. Most are only slightly larger than a turtle dove.
All types have in common that their plumage partly has a rich dark blue. In between there are conspicuous reddish or silver color matches. The eye ring is naked and relatively wide. The neck feathers are long and forked. The inner web of outermost primary feather has a spatula-shaped bulge.
Distribution and behavior
Blue fruit doves are found in Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and the Comoros. The habitat is the evergreen forests of these islands. Blue fruit pigeons are arboreal species. They eat berries and fruits. Little is known about their breeding habits.
Species
The following species are included among the blue fruit pigeons:
- Paradise Fruit Dove ( Alectroenas pulcherrima )
- Madagascar Fruit Dove ( Alectroenas madagascariensis )
- Comoros pigeon ( Alectroenas Sganzini )
- Mauritius pigeon ( Alectroenas nitidissima ) †
- Rodrigues Fruit Dove ( Alectroenas rodericana ) †