About the Mauritius Blue-Pigeon
The Mauritius blue pigeon is an extinct species of blue pigeon formerly endemic to the Mascarene island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. It has two extinct relatives from the Mascarenes and three extant ones from other islands. It is the type species of the genus of blue pigeons, Alectroenas. It had white hackles around the head, neck and breast and blue plumage on the body, and it was red on the tail and the bare parts of the head. These colours were thought similar to those of the Dutch flag, a resemblance reflected in its French common name, Pigeon Hollandais. The juveniles may have been partially green. It was 30 cm (12 in) long and larger and more robust than any other blue pigeon species. It fed on fruits, nuts, and molluscs, and was once widespread in the forests of Mauritius.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae) |
| Species | Alectroenas nitidissimus |
| Species Codes | mabpig2, MABP, MBPI |
| Conservation | extinct |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Mauritius Blue-Pigeon belong to?
The Mauritius Blue-Pigeon (Alectroenas nitidissimus) belongs to the Pigeons and Doves family (Columbidae), in the order Columbiformes.
How can I identify the Mauritius Blue-Pigeon?
The Mauritius blue pigeon is an extinct species of blue pigeon formerly endemic to the Mascarene island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. It has two extinct relatives from the Mascarenes and three extant ones from other islands. It is the type species of the genus of blue pigeons,...
Where can I report a Mauritius Blue-Pigeon sighting?
You can log sightings of Mauritius Blue-Pigeon on eBird (ebird.org) using species code mabpig2, or on iNaturalist.