# Victoria crowned pigeon > The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) is a giant pigeon with a lacy blue crest, living in lowland forest in northern Papua, Yapen and Biak. Source: https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/victoria-crowned-pigeon/ · Updated 25 September 2026 · English · Bahasa Indonesia: https://panduanhewan.org/id/spesies/mambruk-victoria/ _This Markdown mirror is generated at build time from the same data as the HTML page. Cite the HTML page URL and its update date._ **Review status:** Compiled and checked against the listed sources; not yet reviewed by a specialist. ## Quick answer The Victoria crowned pigeon (*Goura victoria*) is a bird in the family Columbidae. Its IUCN Red List category is Near Threatened. | Fact | Value | |---|---| | 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](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/tropical-rainforest/) | | 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) | | Legal protection in Indonesia | Protected (Ministerial Regulation P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018) | | IUCN status | Near Threatened · [IUCN Red List (via GBIF)](https://www.gbif.org/species/2495204) · checked 25 September 2026 | ## 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](https://www.torontozoo.com/animals/Victoria%20crowned%20pigeon) · [PubMed — Bruxaux et al. 2018, Recovering the evolutionary history of crowned pigeons (Columbidae: Goura), Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29199106/) · [JDIH Kemenko Infrastruktur — Permen LHK No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF)](https://jdih.kemenkoinfra.go.id/cfind/source/files/permen-lhk/permenlhk-nomor-p.106-tahun-2018.pdf) ## 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](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/victoria-crowned-pigeon-goura-victoria) · [Toronto Zoo — Victoria crowned pigeon](https://www.torontozoo.com/animals/Victoria%20crowned%20pigeon) ## 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](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/victoria-crowned-pigeon-goura-victoria) · [Toronto Zoo — Victoria crowned pigeon](https://www.torontozoo.com/animals/Victoria%20crowned%20pigeon) ## 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](https://www.torontozoo.com/animals/Victoria%20crowned%20pigeon) · [BirdLife International DataZone — Victoria Crowned-pigeon Goura victoria species factsheet](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/victoria-crowned-pigeon-goura-victoria) · [Mongabay Indonesia — Dijuluki Merpati Bermahkota, Burung Ini Hanya Ada di Papua (2021)](https://www.mongabay.co.id/2021/06/01/dijuluki-merpati-bermahkota-burung-ini-hanya-ada-di-papua/) ## 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](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/victoria-crowned-pigeon-goura-victoria) · [Mongabay Indonesia — Dijuluki Merpati Bermahkota, Burung Ini Hanya Ada di Papua (2021)](https://www.mongabay.co.id/2021/06/01/dijuluki-merpati-bermahkota-burung-ini-hanya-ada-di-papua/) ## 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 Kemenko Infrastruktur — Permen LHK No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF)](https://jdih.kemenkoinfra.go.id/cfind/source/files/permen-lhk/permenlhk-nomor-p.106-tahun-2018.pdf) · [BirdLife International DataZone — Victoria Crowned-pigeon Goura victoria species factsheet](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/victoria-crowned-pigeon-goura-victoria) ## 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 can the Victoria crowned pigeon be found in Indonesia? In Indonesia, this guide records the Victoria crowned pigeon in: Northern Papua, Yapen and Biak-Supiori. Source-supported habitats: [Tropical Rainforests](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/tropical-rainforest/). ### What does the Victoria crowned pigeon eat? Diet of the Victoria crowned pigeon: fallen fruit, berries, seeds and insects. ### What is the conservation status of the Victoria crowned pigeon? 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)](https://www.gbif.org/species/2495204), checked 25 September 2026. This global category is separate from legal protection in Indonesia. To check whether the Victoria crowned pigeon is a protected species, consult the current national list of [protected species](https://panduanhewan.org/en/glossary/#satwa-dilindungi) or contact the local [BKSDA](https://panduanhewan.org/en/bksda-offices/) (natural resources conservation office). ## Sources & references 1. [BirdLife International DataZone — Victoria Crowned-pigeon Goura victoria species factsheet](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/victoria-crowned-pigeon-goura-victoria) 2. [Toronto Zoo — Victoria crowned pigeon](https://www.torontozoo.com/animals/Victoria%20crowned%20pigeon) 3. [Mongabay Indonesia — Dijuluki Merpati Bermahkota, Burung Ini Hanya Ada di Papua (2021)](https://www.mongabay.co.id/2021/06/01/dijuluki-merpati-bermahkota-burung-ini-hanya-ada-di-papua/) 4. [PubMed — Bruxaux et al. 2018, Recovering the evolutionary history of crowned pigeons (Columbidae: Goura), Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29199106/) 5. [JDIH Kemenko Infrastruktur — Permen LHK No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF)](https://jdih.kemenkoinfra.go.id/cfind/source/files/permen-lhk/permenlhk-nomor-p.106-tahun-2018.pdf) ## Further reading [Victoria crowned pigeon: facts, threats and conservation](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/victoria-crowned-pigeon/) — World Animal Rescue Network. ## Keep exploring - [Common hill myna](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/common-hill-myna/) - [Flores hawk-eagle](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/flores-hawk-eagle/) - [Greater bird-of-paradise](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/greater-bird-of-paradise/) - [Green peafowl](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/green-peafowl/) - [Tropical Rainforests](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/tropical-rainforest/) --- Cite: PanduanHewan. (2026). Victoria crowned pigeon. PanduanHewan.org. https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/victoria-crowned-pigeon/