Challenging the traditional view of pigeons, the western crowned-pigeon (also called a New Guinea Blue-Crowned Pigeon) is the largest pigeon in the world, measuring up favourably to a small turkey, and despite being a close relative of the bulbous dodo, it is also one of the most beautiful. With alluring blue feathers and a deep purple patch across the shoulders, males and females look similar. The finishing touches to this bird are the mask of dark blue feathers extending from the slender bill through the eye, and the fan-like crest of lacy light blue feathers on top of the small head. This species may also be partially or totally black.

Western crowned-pigeons live and forage in small groups of two to ten birds, looking for fallen fruit and seeds, as well as eating any insects they come across. Males and females will pair for life, but courtship is still elaborate. The male gives a loud booming call and bows his head, displaying his fanned tail and partially open wings. He will also dance with up-stretched wings, whilst the female lifts her wings high and runs around him in circles. He will then present nesting materials to her, and together they will build a flimsy stick platform in the trees. The female lays a single large, white egg which is incubated by the female at night and the male during the day. It hatches after 28 days, and the naked and helpless hatchling is then fed ‘pigeon's milk' by both the female and male – a liquid produced from partially digested food in a pouch-like enlargement of the gullet – for about a month. After the chick has fledged, the parents will continue to feed it for several months. This handsome specimen was seen at the Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, Arizona.