Quick answer
IUCN status: Near ThreatenedVictoria crowned pigeon at a glance
The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) is a bird in the family Columbidae. Range in Indonesia: Northern Papua, Yapen and Biak-Supiori. Diet: fallen fruit, berries, seeds and insects. IUCN Red List status: Near Threatened. It is a legally protected species in Indonesia (Regulation P.106/2018).
| Scientific name | Goura victoria |
|---|---|
| Indonesian name | Mambruk Victoria |
| Group | Birds |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Range in Indonesia | Northern Papua, Yapen and Biak-Supiori |
| Linked habitats | Tropical Rainforests |
| Diet | Fallen fruit, berries, seeds and insects |
| Range in Indonesia | Northern Papua, Yapen and Biak-Supiori |
| Key feature | Lacy fan-shaped crest tipped white; red eyes |
| Other names | Mambruk, crowned pigeon |
| IUCN status | Near Threatened (BirdLife assessment, 2021) |
| IUCN status | Near Threatened · IUCN Red List (via GBIF) · checked 1 October 2026 |
| Legal protection in Indonesia | Protected · Regulation P.106/2018 · annex no. 312 |
| Reproduction | Laying eggs (oviparous) · Vigie-Nature École (MNHN) |
| Active | Diurnal (active by day) · EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014, Ecology 95:2027), BirdFuncDat.txt |
In this guide (12)
What is the Victoria crowned pigeon?
The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) is one of the world’s largest pigeons, with a lace-like, fan-shaped crest whose feathers are tipped white. According to Toronto Zoo, it weighs around 3.4 kg and measures 75–85 cm. Its plumage is blue-grey with a purple chest, its red eyes sit in a dark mask, and its legs are long. Males and females look almost alike.
A 2018 genetic study recognised four crowned pigeon species, all endemic to New Guinea, and found that the Victoria crowned pigeon’s closest relative is Goura scheepmakeri. Indonesia’s protected-species regulation lists three: G. cristata (mambruk ubiaat), G. sclaterii (mambruk selatan) and the Victoria crowned pigeon.
Evidence: Toronto Zoo — Victoria crowned pigeon ↗ · PubMed — Bruxaux et al. 2018, Recovering the evolutionary history of crowned pigeons (Columbidae: Goura), Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution ↗ · JDIH Kementerian Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF, dengan lampiran) ↗
Where does the Victoria crowned pigeon live?
In Indonesia, the Victoria crowned pigeon lives in northern Papua, from Cenderawasih (Geelvink) Bay eastwards, and on Yapen and Biak-Supiori. BirdLife International says the Biak-Supiori birds may have been introduced. The main populations are in the Mamberamo Basin of Papua and the Sepik Basin of Papua New Guinea. It lives in lowland forest, including swamp forest, sago forest and drier forest, mostly in the extreme lowlands and up to about 600 m. A 2014 study found it only in continuous forest, not in forest fragments.
Evidence: BirdLife International DataZone — Victoria Crowned-pigeon Goura victoria species factsheet ↗ · Toronto Zoo — Victoria crowned pigeon ↗
What does the Victoria crowned pigeon eat?
The Victoria crowned pigeon feeds on the forest floor, mainly on fallen fruit, berries and seeds. BirdLife notes that it forages in small groups of 2–10 birds and roosts in trees. Toronto Zoo adds that it also eats insects and spends much of its time searching the soft, marshy ground of the forest. Feeding on the ground makes it vulnerable to the small snares that local hunters commonly set for ground-dwelling birds in the lowland forests of northern Papua.
Evidence: BirdLife International DataZone — Victoria Crowned-pigeon Goura victoria species factsheet ↗ · Toronto Zoo — Victoria crowned pigeon ↗
How does the Victoria crowned pigeon breed?
The Victoria crowned pigeon lays a single egg per nesting attempt. According to Toronto Zoo, pairs tend to mate for life; the male chooses the site and gathers twigs, and the female builds a platform nest fairly low in a tree or shrub. Both parents take turns incubating for about 30 days and feed the chick on ‘crop milk’. The young leave the nest 35–40 days after hatching. BirdLife notes that captive birds start breeding at 15 months old. A researcher quoted by Mongabay Indonesia said a Victoria crowned pigeon at Rotterdam Zoo lived to 35 years.
Evidence: Toronto Zoo — Victoria crowned pigeon ↗ · BirdLife International DataZone — Victoria Crowned-pigeon Goura victoria species factsheet ↗ · Mongabay Indonesia — Dijuluki Merpati Bermahkota, Burung Ini Hanya Ada di Papua (2021) ↗
Why is the Victoria crowned pigeon hunted?
The Victoria crowned pigeon is hunted mainly for meat and to a lesser extent for its feathers, and nestlings are taken to be raised or sold. BirdLife notes that a 2010 study placed it among the main birds hunted in northern Papua, and that it has disappeared near some transmigration settlements. A researcher quoted by Mongabay Indonesia said crowned pigeons trust people, which makes them easy to shoot with arrows or catch. Selective logging, oil palm and logging roads that open access to hunters add pressure. BirdLife assessed it as Near Threatened in 2021, with a rough estimate of 10,000–19,999 mature individuals (2016).
Evidence: BirdLife International DataZone — Victoria Crowned-pigeon Goura victoria species factsheet ↗ · Mongabay Indonesia — Dijuluki Merpati Bermahkota, Burung Ini Hanya Ada di Papua (2021) ↗
How can the Victoria crowned pigeon be protected?
The Victoria crowned pigeon is listed as a protected species in the annex to Indonesian Ministerial Regulation P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018, and its international trade is regulated under CITES Appendix II. People can help by not buying, keeping or eating crowned pigeons, and by not setting snares in the forest. Continuous lowland forest needs protecting, because the species is not found in small forest fragments. BirdLife recommends monitoring trade, working with port authorities, enforcing protection in reserves and promoting the bird as an ecotourism flagship. If you see crowned pigeons for sale, report it to local conservation officers.
Evidence: JDIH Kementerian Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF, dengan lampiran) ↗ · BirdLife International DataZone — Victoria Crowned-pigeon Goura victoria species factsheet ↗
Explore related habitats
These habitat relationships are supported by species sources in this guide. This is not a complete range map.
Scientific classification of the Victoria crowned pigeon
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Goura |
| Species | Goura victoria |
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology (for example class Reptilia).
Common questions about the Victoria crowned pigeon
What is the scientific name of the Victoria crowned pigeon?
The scientific name of the Victoria crowned pigeon is Goura victoria, in the family Columbidae. In Indonesian it is called Mambruk Victoria.
Where does the Victoria crowned pigeon live in Indonesia?
In Indonesia, this guide records the Victoria crowned pigeon in: Northern Papua, Yapen and Biak-Supiori.
Source-supported habitats: Tropical Rainforests.
What does the Victoria crowned pigeon eat?
Diet of the Victoria crowned pigeon: fallen fruit, berries, seeds and insects.
How does the Victoria crowned pigeon reproduce?
The Victoria crowned pigeon reproduces by laying eggs (oviparous). Source: Vigie-Nature École (MNHN).
Is the Victoria crowned pigeon nocturnal?
The cited source records the Victoria crowned pigeon as diurnal (active by day). Source: EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014, Ecology 95:2027), BirdFuncDat.txt.
See also the list of nocturnal and diurnal animals in Indonesia.
What are the main features of the Victoria crowned pigeon?
Key features of the Victoria crowned pigeon, from this guide’s sources: Key feature: lacy fan-shaped crest tipped white; red eyes.
What is the scientific classification of the Victoria crowned pigeon?
Scientific classification of the Victoria crowned pigeon: kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Aves, order Columbiformes, family Columbidae, genus Goura, species Goura victoria.
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology.
Is the Victoria crowned pigeon endangered?
Not yet in a threatened category, but close to one. On the IUCN Red List, the Victoria crowned pigeon is listed as Near Threatened: it is close to qualifying, or likely to qualify, for a threatened category in the near future. Source: IUCN Red List (via GBIF), checked 1 October 2026.
This global category is separate from national legal protection. Is the Victoria crowned pigeon protected in Indonesia?
Is the Victoria crowned pigeon protected in Indonesia?
Yes. The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) is a protected species in Indonesia under Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 on protected plant and animal species (annex, entry 312).
Article 21(2) of Law No. 5 of 1990, as amended by Law No. 32 of 2024, prohibits anyone from hunting, catching, injuring, killing, storing, owning, keeping, transporting or trading a protected animal, alive or dead, including its body parts, eggs and nests.
If you see this animal being traded, kept or injured, contact the local BKSDA office.
Can the Victoria crowned pigeon be kept as a pet?
No. Because the Victoria crowned pigeon is a protected species, catching, owning, keeping, transporting or trading it without a permit is prohibited by law. Trading without a permit through electronic media is also prohibited.
If you see this animal for sale or being kept, report it to the local BKSDA office.
Sources & references
- BirdLife International DataZone — Victoria Crowned-pigeon Goura victoria species factsheet ↗
- Toronto Zoo — Victoria crowned pigeon ↗
- Mongabay Indonesia — Dijuluki Merpati Bermahkota, Burung Ini Hanya Ada di Papua (2021) ↗
- PubMed — Bruxaux et al. 2018, Recovering the evolutionary history of crowned pigeons (Columbidae: Goura), Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution ↗
- JDIH Kementerian Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF, dengan lampiran) ↗
- Vigie-Nature École (MNHN) ↗
- EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014, Ecology 95:2027), BirdFuncDat.txt ↗
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (GBIF) ↗
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, version 2026-1, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0) ↗
References can change. Check dates and context in the original source. How we use sources and data →
Further reading
Victoria crowned pigeon: facts, threats and conservation ↗ — World Animal Rescue Network.
Related site: PanduanHewan’s founder is also a director of World Animal Rescue Network.
Cite this page
Credit PanduanHewan when referring to this page. Check the original evidence sources before reusing a claim.
PanduanHewan. Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria). Last substantive update: 1 October 2026. https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/victoria-crowned-pigeon/