Mauritius Blue Pigeon

Alectroenas nitidissimus (Scopoli, 1786)

Mauritius Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas nitidissimus, was an extinct pigeon of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, part of the Mascarenes. It was the type species of Alectroenas and had two extinct relatives from the same island group, with three living relatives on other islands. Its plumage combined white around the head, neck and breast with blue on the body, and red on the tail and bare facial skin. Young birds may have shown some green. It lived in Mauritius forests, was once widespread there, and became extinct in the 1830s.

Order

Columbiformes

Family

Columbidae — Pigeons, Doves

Breeding range

Indian Ocean: Mauritius (c Mascarenes)