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NZ Wood Pigeon


NZ Wood Pigeon
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3815 W: 505 N: 8090] (27700)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-10-23
Categories: Birds
Camera: Konica Minolta Dimage Z2, 52mm UV + Circ. Polarizer
Exposure: f/3.7, 1/160 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2004-11-03 4:12
Viewed: 1935
Points: 6
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The New Zealand Native Wood Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) or Kereru is a large bird at 18 inches (51 cm), It is the largest bird in New Zealand. This bird is purplish green above and white below. The bill is red with an orange tip, and the eyes and feet are also red. The call is a soft "ku."

The favored food of this bird is berries: miro, pigeonwood, puriri, taraire and tawa as well as coprosma, elder, hangehange, kahikatea, karaka, nikau and titoki. It also eats leaves, buds and flowers. The Kereru is one of the main seed dispersers in the area.

The breeding season is from September to February. During this time the birds exhibit spectacular aerial displays. The nest is built of sticks in the fork of a tree. Only one egg is laid. The incubation period is about 30 days. The young fledges at from 30 to 45 days.

The chick (called a squab) feeds on "pigeon milk" for the first week and then later is given regurgitated berries. Fledglings become fully independent about one week after fledging.

This bird is endangered. Causes include habitat loss, predation, competition and illegal hunting. Pedators include rats, stoats, possums, cats and man.
mrvdm1, LordPotty has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Nice detail on the bird,Pam. I like the info in your note (Quite a big pigeon). I larger aperture would have changed you BG, making it a great shot! Thanks for posting.

Hey,not fair! (lol) You live in NZ. You're supposed to go out and find these.
Are these really considered endangered still? They seem so common around here. I see half a dozen every time I go to the bush.Nice to see here too.Thanks.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-11-04 2:04]

Very good detail on the bird. Its unfortunate that one cannot always choose the BG but you capture this shot well.

Thanks for posting

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