Green dove: description of bird species and lifestyle, habitats and diet

The pigeon bird family includes about 300 species. They differ from each other in appearance, ability to fly, even food preferences. In Africa and Asia, green pigeons are as common as our ordinary sisari, and have several varieties. A detailed description of these amazing birds, their way of life and habits will allow you to get to know tropical feathered beauties.

What does it look like?

There are several types of green doves. One of them, the Japanese green dove Treron sieboldii, is distributed in Japan, Korea, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands and Primorye.This is the only representative of such pigeons in Russia. Others prefer subtropical and tropical climates.

The pink-necked green dove Treron vernans gets its name from its distinctive intense pink coloration of the neck and upper chest. The back, lower body and wings of this species of pigeon have a yellowish green or intense green tint. This species of birds lives in South Asia, is found in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.

Representative of African green doves, Treron calvus - a resident of the rainforest. The African green dove feeds on the fruits of trees and rarely finds food on the ground.

Birds are slightly different in appearance. The Japanese green dove has a short dense and soft plumage. It has a small head, a short neck and a rather powerful chest. Small wings rounded at the ends of a more intense color than the head and body. Length - 25-30 centimeters, weight - about 300 grams.

On the ground, these birds rarely feed, prefer juicy fruits and berries (bird cherry, elderberry). Birds are extremely cautious, therefore they are little studied, included in the Red Book of Russia, hunting for them is prohibited.

The pink-necked green dove is a small bright elegant bird. Length - 25-30 centimeters, weight - from 100 to 165 grams. Plays of blue, pink, orange and green shades of plumage make these birds very elegant. The males are so brightly colored, the females have a more modest plumage: there are green and yellowish shades in the color.

Pale blue beak, red-pink paws. The head is small, the upper part of the neck from the back of the head and the back of the males are painted in blue tones, the upper part of the breast is intensely pink, the breast in the middle part may have orange hues, the lower part of the body, wings, and tail are green.The brighter the male is colored, the more attractive he is to the female.

The birds of this species also prefer fruits and fruits and are almost invisible in the branches of trees. However, they are able to fly quickly and are very dexterous in flight.

African green dove 24-28 centimeters long, weight 150-290 grams, the birds are characterized by maroon spots at the base of the wings, while the head and body are covered with green plumage. Paws are orange. Birds live throughout the African continent. Red are the feathers on the inside of the tail.

Bird lifestyle

All species of such a pigeon are very cautious, they stay away from humans, inhabit deciduous forests. Therefore, there is little information about these birds with a green head. Birds fly very well, very maneuverable in the air. They feed during the day and sleep at night. They live in pairs, if necessary, form small flocks of migration.

Due to their coloration and small size, birds are almost invisible in the foliage of trees. Birds are monogamous, form a stable pair, jointly care for chicks. Nests are built on trees, at a height of 2-3 meters, descend to the ground to drink water.

Food cravings

These pigeons don't feed on grains or seeds, they don't need fresh grass. They feed on juicy fruits and fruits, this is reminiscent of parrots. Due to the abundance of food on the trees, birds rarely come down to the ground. To replenish minerals in the body, they drink sea water.

Green pigeon breeding

A dove is anxiously caring for a dove. The formed pair builds a nest together. The female lays 1-2 eggs, both parents participate in incubation, if the female needs to leave to eat, the male sits on the masonry, he is in the nest at night.

Feathers are caring parents who can ensure high survival for their offspring. Chicks are born naked, plumage appears on them at 1.5-2 weeks. Feathers jointly feed the chick for 4.5-5 weeks. After that, the chick begins to fly and does not need guardianship. It becomes adult and sexually mature at about 1 year old.

Habitats and distribution trends

Japanese pigeon nests in Kunashir. Distributed in Japan, Hong Kong, South and North Korea, Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, in Primorye. Pink-necked and African pigeons prefer the tropics of South Asia and Africa. Today, these birds can be found in the collections of Europe, it is possible to purchase exotic birds in Russia. Of course, their purchase will be very sensitive to the budget. In order for the birds to feel good, they need to create certain conditions:

temperature in the room where the birds are not lower than +15 °C;
a diet consisting of fruits and fruits (apples, peaches, apricots, grapes);
regular cleaning of the cage or dovecote.

All types of green doves in captivity quickly gain weight. Birds need to fly to keep fit.

Is the green dove a pet or not?

Of course, any variety of green doves are not domestic birds. Birds are easily tamed, perfectly coexist with each other. Since these birds are expensive and are ordered in advance, they are often kept in cages, like canaries or parrots.

Today, exotic green pigeons began to appear in different regions of Russia. They are expensive, but for a person in love with these birds, they become a welcome acquisition. Since the Asian and African varieties are easily tamed, with a minimum of knowledge and experience, they are easy to keep in a cage or aviary. The main thing is to remember that they need to fly, because birds imprisoned in a cramped enclosed space quickly get fat and lose their flight skills.