Familiar pigeons, typical representatives of the pigeon family, are deservedly nicknamed the “gray” for their characteristic color. However, they have much more exotic relatives. Pink pigeons belong to the brightest and most unusual, which will be discussed in this article.

Appearance

Outwardly resembling ordinary pigeons, these birds, however, are quite peculiar:

1. The head is round in color, medium in size, located on a small neck.
2. Eyes are deep brown or dark yellow.
3. The beak is strong, slightly thickened at the end. Its base is pale red, and the main part is slightly pink or white.
4. Birds of this species do not have bright pink feathers - on the contrary, their plumage has a muted, powdery pink hue. Feathers of a similar color are located throughout the body.
5. The wings are brownish, sometimes dark gray.
6. The tail grows wide enough, it forms a likeness of a fan, feathers are painted in a brownish color.
7. There are no feathers on the legs, they are painted in light red.
8. Body length is approximately 37 cm.
9. Mass reaches 350 g.

Where dwells

Not everyone can enjoy the beauty of these birds. The pink-feathers live on the territory of the island of Egret and in the south of Mauritius, located in the Indian Ocean. They love the dense forests, which are a reliable haven for harmless birds.

Did you know? The pink dove is held in high esteem by the inhabitants of the island of Mauritius. Natives never consume of these birds for food, believing that they eat the fruits of a poisonous tree.

Lifestyle

The pink dove lives about 20 years, while males live longer than females. Although they do not like long flights, these birds fly very well. In flight, it stands out among other birds at high speed and good maneuverability. In the wild, they live in small flocks of up to 25 individuals, in which they gather for life together and forage.In the matter of pairing and procreation, pigeons are monogamous. All their lives they protect a certain territory, which they choose for the nest, and do not even allow their relatives there.

Threats and security

Today, a pink dove is an almost extinct bird listed in the IUCN Red List. This species is under threat of complete extinction due to loss of habitat due to tree felling, as well as frequent death as a result of attacks by various animals.

In addition, birds suffer from storms, which quite often occur in the territory of their residence. So, in 1991 their number dropped to a minimum level of 10 individuals.

In this critical situation, local zoodefenders decided to keep exotic beauties in ordinary zoos to preserve the species.

Today, about 150 birds live in captivity; they breed well, which allows them to be released back into the wild.

Thanks to the help of the local environmental protection fund, intensive work is underway to increase their number.

Are pink pigeons bred

The breeding of these birds is not registered anywhere, except for zoos located near their natural habitat.

Important! These birds feed on the fruits and buds of different trees, as well as leaves and flowers, young shoots are a special treat.

Are there bright pink pigeons

Judging by the description of this variety, the natural pink color does not look bright or solid. There are species of pigeons such as purple and wine red, but their plumage is noticeably more dull and heterogeneous. From this it follows that in nature there are no birds of the pigeon family with similar plumage.If you see pigeons with feathers of bright pink color, it only means that they are artificially painted by unscrupulous owners (for example, for wedding ceremonies and similar celebrations), and this does not at all benefit their health.

So, as can be seen from the above, pink birds of this species, despite their beauty, are in danger of extinction. So that future generations can enjoy their beauty, you need to take care of their existence and preservation of the natural habitat intact.