Nesoenas mayeri
The Pink Pigeon, *Nesoenas mayeri*, is an exquisite and distinctive medium-sized dove, endemic to the island of Mauritius. Measuring approximately 36-38 cm (14-15 inches) in length and weighing around 320-350 grams, its most striking feature is the soft rosy-pink plumage covering its head, neck, and underparts, contrasting sharply with a grey crown and a reddish-brown tail. A prominent bright red fleshy eye-ring, a red beak with a whitish tip, and red legs and feet serve as key identification...
Primarily inhabits indigenous upland evergreen forests and degraded secondary forests of Mauritius, preferring areas with a dense understory. They are found from lowland areas up to montane regions.
Feeds primarily on the native fruits, flowers, leaves, shoots, buds, and seeds of indigenous Mauritian plants, foraging both on the ground and within the forest canopy.
Pink Pigeons are diurnal, spending their days foraging and breeding, typically roosting communally in dense vegetation at night. They employ both arboreal and terrestrial foraging strategies, plucking fruits, flowers, and leaves directly from plants or from the forest floor. During the breeding s...
The Pink Pigeon is strictly endemic to Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean. Historically, its range encompassed much of Mauritius's native forests, but habitat destruction drastically confined its distribution. Today, the largest wild population is found within the protected confines of Blac...
Vulnerable
- The Pink Pigeon is one of the world's most successful conservation stories, having recovered from just 9-12 individuals in the wild in the late 1980s. - It is found exclusively on the island of Mauritius, making it a true endemic species. - Its striking pink plumage is unique among pigeons, tho...