Ueno Zoo has been raising three Red-headed Wood Pigeon (two males and one female) that were captured on Chichijima Island in the Ogasawara Islands in March 2001. Now, they have successfully paired them up for the first time!

Egg-laying was observed from the end of October to the beginning of November this year. The male and female took turns incubating the eggs, and they hatched between December 18th and 19th. We were able to confirm the presence of the chicks.

Please see the news page of Tokyo Zoo Net (https://www.tokyo-zoo.net/) for photos. It is about 40 centimeters long and is a bird of the pigeon family. It is mostly black, but the top of its head is a dull reddish-brown, and its head, neck, and chest have a metallic sheen of purple or green.

DNA was extracted from the blood on the eggshell, and the sex determination results suggest that it is most likely female.

Red-headed Wood Pigeon is an endemic subspecies found only in the Ogasawara Islands. Due to its small population and limited research, little is known about its ecology.

The habitat is deteriorating due to factors such as the impact of feral cats and rats, the proliferation of the invasive tree *Acacia dealbata*, and the reduction of tree seeds due to typhoons.

It is designated as a "domestic rare wild animal and plant species" and a "natural monument," and is listed as endangered (Category IB) in the Red Data Book.

We plan to continue focusing on breeding and conservation efforts.
(Top photo: newly hatched chick, bottom photo: adult bird)