Crown Pigeons

(Goura), a genus of birds of the family Columbidae. The birds have a large, fan-shaped crest on their heads (hence their name). They are the largest of modern pigeons. (Their body length can reach 80 cm.) Bluish and purplish tones predominate in their coloring. There are three species. Crown pigeons are distributed in New Guinea and neighboring islands. They live in forests, staying in small flocks and living mostly on the ground. They rarely fly. They nest in trees and lay one egg per setting. Crown pigeons feed on fallen fruits, berries, and small crabs.