Facts about Chatham Island pigeon
The Chatham Island pigeon or parea (Hemiphaga chathamensis) is one of two species of native pigeon in New Zealand.
Twenty percent heavier than the NZ pigeon, its dorsal plumage and upper breast is more purple and pearl-grey than its mainland counterpart, but it has the same white lower breast, shoulder straps and belly. The bill is red with and orange tip.
Chatham Island pigeon/parea
Parea fly with noisy wingbeats, and during the breeding season they perform conspicious display dives - flapping upwards from their perch and then stalling and diving sharply down.
Parea feed on a wide range of leaves and fruit with hoho (Pseudopanax chathamicus) being particularly important. Parea spend considerable time on the ground grazing.
A recent survey found that the population has increased to around 500 birds, from a population low of 40 in the late 1980s.The increase in the population has been attributed to forest protection and predator control.
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