DSC_5296 Kererū or New Zealand pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) 'brown' female. This colour variation is the most commonly expressed mutation found in wild birds. The plumage differs from a normal-coloured kereru in being washed brown on the darker feathers, caused by a reduction in the production of eumelanin while the lower breast and belly feathers remain white. The structural iridescent colours on the neck and shoulders still shows. The gene for 'brown' is sex-linked, and it is extremely unlikely for brown males to occur under wild conditions so brown mutations amongst wild birds, are invariably female. The bill and feet may also be paler in a brown mutation (not discernible here) however eye colour remains the same. Although the black eumelanin pigment becomes brown, the reddish or yellowish-brown phaeomelanin is unaffected. Some of the feathers on the wings are a paler brown than others due to further 'bleaching' by natural light, thus older feathers may be paler than fresh ones. Dunedin *
11001-69702 Parea or Chatham Island pigeon (Hemiphaga chathamensis) male in Tuku Reserve. Larger and heavier than NZ pigeon, with greys and purples in the plumage rather than the greens, and browns of the more 'rustic' kereru. Unlike kereru this species will court and sometimes even nest on the ground. Less than 600 birds remain. Tuku a tamatea River, Main Chatham Island *
DSC_3557 Parea or Chatham Island pigeon (Hemiphaga chathamensis) pair flying in Tuku Reserve. Larger and heavier than NZ pigeon, with greys and purples in the plumage rather than the greens, and browns of the more 'rustic' kereru. Unlike kereru this species will court and sometimes even nest on the ground. Less than 600 birds remain. Awatotara Creek, Main Chatham Island *
