Nicobar Pigeon  Caloenas nicobarica

Found on small, wooded islands in
mangroves, lowland and foothill forests

Feeds on seeds and fruits

32-35cm; 460g-600g

CITES I

Nicobar Islands

Captive notes:

   These beautiful birds do best when kept in groups; ours are housed in a large, well
planted mixed-species aviary.  They spend quite a bit of time on the ground, though
roost and nest up high.  They eat a mixture of several grains, and also the chopped fruit
and rice mix for the fruit doves...they especially enjoy the papaya.  Though not
aggressive birds, they do chase each other during breeding season; this seems to
stimulate the pairing and breeding.  They nest up high along the back walls of the aviary
where they have privacy, using half-open platforms with sticks they collect for nest
building.  Each pair tends to re-use the same nest site for each clutch, adding sticks
each time.  They lay 1 egg, with incubation time approximately 27-29 days.
     

photo credit:  Shelly O'Brien