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<strong>EEP</strong> STUDBOOK CROWNED PIGEONS<br />
Vocalisations<br />
<strong>Crowned</strong> <strong>pigeon</strong>s produce a range of vocalisations, which are widely described by different<br />
authors. Goodwin (1983) described the sound of a common crowned <strong>pigeon</strong> as a ship's<br />
foghorn, or the "drumming" of an Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), while Fleay (1961)<br />
interprets it as "the complaining of an old man" or "prolonged, lugubrious "moose" like<br />
someone blowing strongly over the top of an empty milk bottle". Johnst (1961; in Goodwin,<br />
1983) describes the display coo of a captive male as "a long drawn buuuuuuh, which was also<br />
used in aggressive contests and as the advertising coo"/ Heinroth (1903; in Goodwin, 1983)<br />
describes a deep grumbling conversational note and "a very loud call like that made by the<br />
Papuans".<br />
<strong>Crowned</strong> <strong>pigeon</strong>s produce different sounds on different occasions and Van Rijn (1995) has<br />
extensively studied this. After comparing the vocalizations of the different species, no<br />
significant differences in the sounds or the frequency of the sounds could be found (Van Rijn,<br />
1995).<br />
Sound Produced by Occasion<br />
Nestcoo Both sexes When the bird is standing on the nest.<br />
Perchcoo or Male Probably to attract the female to the nest, species<br />
display coo<br />
recognition.<br />
Bowcoo Male Shortly after mating, or to intimidate enemies.<br />
Contact call Both sexes A monotonous sound to keep in touch with each other; they<br />
or advertising<br />
coo<br />
also produces this sound standing next to each other.<br />
Excitement Both sexes Shortly after mating when the birds peck towards each<br />
cry<br />
other.<br />
Distress call Both sexes When a bird is excited or feels threatened, warning notes.<br />
(Van Rijn, 1995)<br />
Reproduction<br />
Almost all data of reproduction of crowned <strong>pigeon</strong>s are obtained from crowned <strong>pigeon</strong>s in<br />
captivity.<br />
Breeding season<br />
<strong>Crowned</strong> <strong>pigeon</strong>s in captivity do not have a specific breeding season. Eggs are laid through<br />
the year, which is expected for inhabitants of tropical forests (Assink, 1988).<br />
Display and breeding behaviour<br />
The reproductive behaviour of crowned <strong>pigeon</strong>s in captivity has been studied relatively well.<br />
For the nest-site they choose sites which offer some horizontal or nearly horizontal support, a<br />
fork near the periphery of some tree of shrub, well screened by vegetation about four meters<br />
above the ground (Goodwin, 1983; Wetzel, 1991).<br />
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