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Nicobar Pigeon


Nicobar Pigeon
Photo Information
Copyright: Michel Detay (M_Detay) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 12 W: 0 N: 104] (493)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-11-14
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D2X, Zoom-Nikkor 70-200 mm f/2.8 G (IF)
Exposure: f/4, 1/60 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-11-26 20:21
Viewed: 660
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Nicobar Pigeon - Caloenas nicobarica is a pigeon which is a resident breeding bird on small uninhabited islands in Indonesia and the Nicobar Islands. It is the only living member of the genus Caloenas.

This is a large, heavy pigeon at 40 cm in length. It is mainly metallic green with green and copper hackles on the neck. The head and upper neck, flight feathers and breast are dark grey. The tail is very short and pure white. There is a black knob on the base of the bill, and the strong legs are dark red. This is not a very vocal species, but possesses a low pitched repetitive call.

Females are slightly smaller than males; they have a smaller bill knob, shorter hackles and browner underparts. Immature birds have a black tail.

The Nicobar Pigeon roams in flocks from island to island, including inhabited sites, seeking its food of seeds, fruit and some invertebrates, and is attracted to areas where grain is available; usually, it sleeps on offshore islets where no predators occur and spends the day in areas with better food availability. Its flight is quick, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings which are characteristic of pigeons in general. Peculiarly, groups tend to fly in columns or single file, not in a loose flock as most other pigeons do; the white tail seems to serve as a sort of "taillight" when crossing water at dawn or dusk.
These observations are also supported by inexperienced birds, which could lead a group astray, lacking this feature.

This species nests in dense forest, building a stick nest in a tree and laying one elliptical, faintly blue-tinged white egg.

Picture taken in Hong Kong's Ocean Park.
angela926, Jamesp, mariki, JPlumb has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Michel
very nice color and detail. good sharpness too.
Angela

Salut Michel,
A nice portrait of this brd. Well focussed on the eye and good colors.
Greetngs, Mike

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 0 N: 5107] (15234)
  • [2007-11-26 23:59]

Hi Mike

A very nice POV with good eye contact. I like the detail in the feathers.

James

Hello Michel,

Very nice and sharp potrait of this pigeon. Colours are wonderful!
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi Michel, this is a beautiful portrait of this pigeon. Your close detail is incredible. Great colour with a great diffuse background, very nice all around.

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2108 W: 6 N: 2116] (13589)
  • [2007-11-27 12:44]

Hola amigo,
precioso retrato y originales los colores...
buen pov y foco,
saludos

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-11-28 10:52]

Hello Michel

Excellent portrait of this Nicobar pigeon.
The plumage detail is wonderful,excellent eye contact and glint.
The lighting and colours are wonderful.
Great job.
TFS

Rob

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