Story: Large forest birds

Kererū chick

Kererū chick

This three-week-old chick is on Kāpiti Island. Like other pigeons and doves, both parents feed the chick crop milk initially. This nutritious yellowish substance, with a texture like cottage cheese, is produced in the cells lining the crop – a pouch in the upper digestive tract. Once the chick is a few weeks old, the parents start feeding it regurgitated fruit.

Using this item

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10046712
Photograph by Peter Morrison

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Large forest birds - Pigeons – kererū and parea', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/10574/kereru-chick (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015, updated 1 Aug 2023