FEATHERY FRIDAY # 50

FEATHERY FRIDAY #50

Woohoo, we’ve made it to Friday and that means it time to meet a new bird friend! We’re off to the island country of New Zealand today to meet a member of the pigeon family! So let’s head out on today’s adventure!

MEET THE NEW ZEALAND PIGEON!

   Range/Habitat: New Zealand/ forest-woodlands

   Diet: Frugivores: fruits, plants

   Length/Weight: 18-20”/ 21-29 oz

   Conservation Status: near threatened

Fun Facts:

• New Zealand Pigeons are the largest species of pigeons in New Zealand.
• They are the only native pigeon species.
• They are also called the Kereru in New Zealand.
• New Zealand pigeons have dark and iridescent feathers on the top of their bodies and white bellies.
• They can eat very large fruit.
• New Zealand pigeons are important seed dispersers. They poop out seed of the fruit they eat and in turn help to grow new fruit trees.

Pigeons often get such a bad rap, but we just love these birds. New Zealand pigeons are so very important for the growth of new trees too. Without seed dispersers like these birds, forests would often have little new growth! Way to go pigeons!!