Maori fruit pigeon

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Maori fruit pigeon
Maori fruit pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae)

Maori fruit pigeon ( Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Pigeon birds (Columbiformes)
Family : Pigeons (Columbidae)
Genre : Hemiphaga
Type : Maori fruit pigeon
Scientific name of the  genus
Hemiphaga
Bonaparte , 1854
Scientific name of the  species
Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
( Gmelin , 1789)
Maori fruit pigeon
Maori fruit pigeon

The Maori fruit pigeon ( Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae ) ( Māori : Kererū), also called New Zealand fruit pigeon , is a New Zealand bird in the pigeon family . There are two subspecies, H. n. Novaeseelandiae , which breed in New Zealand's three main islands, and the larger H. n. Chathamensis , which breed in the Chatham Islands . A third subspecies, H. n. Spadicea , found on Norfolk Island , became extinct in the 18th century. It is the only representative of the genus Hemiphaga .

Appearance

The Maori fruit pigeon is about the size of a domestic pigeon. However, their physique is more compact and noticeably longer-tailed. The head is small. There is only a very minor gender dimorphism .

The plumage on the head, neck and chest is green, iridescent gold. The posterior neck, as well as the mantle and the inner elytra are purple. The rest of the top of the body is shimmering green. The wings are black-blue and the tail is dark gray to slate black. The belly, the flanks and the under tail-coverts are white.

Distribution area and habitat

The Maori fruit pigeon is found all over New Zealand and is only absent on Norfolk Island . The Chatham Islands are populated by a subspecies of the Maori fruit pigeon ( H. n. Chatamensis ). A subspecies also originally appeared on the Norfolk Island ( H. n. Spadicea ). However, this is now extinct.

The Maori fruit pigeon is originally native to the lowland forest, which is dominated by stone slices (Podocarpaceae) such as Tawa, Taraire and Puriri. Today, however, it can also be found in bush patches on farmland , in gardens, and in city parks. Their breeding and wintering areas are close together, but outside of the breeding season the birds travel long distances to good food sources for fruits or leaves.

behavior

Berries are the main food of the Maori fruit pigeon, which they find all year round - puriri berries in summer and fall, miro berries in fall and winter, and taraire berries in winter and spring. Karaka, Nikau , Kahikatea and other berries complete the menu. During late winter, when there are few or no berries, leaves and plant sprouts serve as food.

Breeding usually takes place in spring or early summer. The pairing is characterized by great flight displays of both sexes, which can be observed more intensely in the males as the time of egg-laying approaches. The locals say of this remarkable behavior that the Puriri berries make you drunk.

They lay an egg that is strangely long, narrow, and white. Both adults incubate the egg during the 28 day incubation period. The female sits all night until the morning and the male takes over from noon until the evening. The nestling period is 36 days.

Like many long-lived birds, the Maori fruit pigeon reproduces very slowly. Studies in the Northland , Hawke's Bay and Marlborough regions have shown that less than 15 percent of chicks survive long enough to fledge. While habitat loss is one of the major problems, the threat comes primarily from enemies, especially humans .

The Maori fruit pigeon is usually a quiet bird, which can be a bit irritating to find it perched on a branch, usually in the deep shade of the tree, watching you quietly. A soft ku is sometimes heard with the hen growling and hissing whistles as greetings. His different Māori names Kuku , Kereru and Kukupa are onomatopoeic names. They are also known to sometimes shower in light rain, repositioning their feet and grasping a branch to let the rain fall on their bellies.

Unlike most birds, pigeons can drink without lifting their heads. They become particularly thirsty when eating the berries, which the Māori use to their advantage when hunting them. They place drinking troughs with loops under the berry-bearing trees.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Gibbs, p. 573
  2. ↑ Rösler, p. 310
  3. ↑ Rösler, p. 310

literature

  • David Gibbs, Eustace Barnes and John Cox: Pigeons and Doves - A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World . Pica Press, Sussex 2001, ISBN 90-74345-26-3
  • Gerhard Rösler: The wild pigeons of the earth - free life, keeping and breeding , Verlag M. & H. Schaper, Alfeld-Hannover 1996, ISBN 3-7944-0184-0

Web links

Commons : Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae  - album with pictures, videos and audio files