Also known as the rose-fronted pigeon, they are found in the rainforests of New Guinea and nearby islands, preferring mid-elevation forests with lots of fruit trees. They are usually found alone or in pairs.
The life of a beautiful fruit dove
Beautiful fruit doves grow about eight inches long, weigh 2.5 ounces and live up to 15 years in the wild. Known for their bright, colorful feathers, males and females share the same appearance.
Their diet consists of fruit, which they swallow whole. They must compete for food with larger birds that also feast on fruit, like the collared imperial pigeon. Beautiful fruit doves have two distinctive calls: a slow, descending “woo-ooo” or a rapid “wooloo.”
During mating, males puff their chests and stretch their bodies while hooting and cooing to attract females. Together, they build delicate nests using twigs and leaves, placed high in trees. Females lay one egg at a time. Chicks leave the nest eight to 10 days after hatching but stay near their parents who both help in raising and protecting their young.
Predators include larger birds of prey as well as snakes. Beautiful fruit doves avoid predators through camouflage, blending in with the rainforest.
Beautiful fruit doves at the zoo
Located in the Treetops section of the Africa area.
