Mountain pigeons are four species of birds in the genus Gymnophaps in the pigeon family Columbidae. They are found on islands in eastern Indonesia and Melanesia, where they inhabit hill and montane forest. Medium-sized pigeons with long tails and wings, they are 33 to 38.5 cm (13.0 to 15.2 in) long and weigh 259 to 385 g (9.1 to 13.6 oz). They mostly have dull grey, white, or chestnut-brown plumage, their most distinctive feature being bright red skin around the eyes. Males and females mostly look alike, but the Papuan and pale mountain pigeons show slight sexual dimorphism. They are social and are usually seen in flocks of 10 to 40 birds, although some species can form flocks of more than 100. The genus was originally described by the Italian zoologist Tommaso Salvadori in 1874 and currently contains the Papuan, Seram, Buru, and pale mountain pigeons. Mountain pigeons inhabit trees and feed on a wide variety of fruit. All four species are listed as being of least concern on the IUCN Red List.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_pigeon

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1940:

The Arroyo Seco Parkway, one of the first freeways built in the U.S., connecting downtown Los Angeles with Pasadena, California, was officially dedicated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arroyo_Seco_Parkway

1954:

The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation was established to consolidate criminal investigation and intelligence into a single agency. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Bureau_of_Investigation_%28Finland%29

1969:

Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos began his second term after being re-elected in a landslide. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_term_of_the_presidency_of_Ferdinand_Marcos

2006:

Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq, was executed after being found guilty of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi High Tribunal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execution_of_Saddam_Hussein

2009:

Pro-government counter-demonstrators held rallies in several Iranian cities in response to recent anti-government protests on the holy day of Ashura. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_December_2009_Iranian_pro-government_rallies

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

just-so story: 1. A story which supposedly explains the beginning or early development of a current state of affairs; a myth, a pourquoi story. 2. (literature) A story, especially one for children, featuring animals as characters. 3. (social sciences, especially anthropology, philosophy, chiefly derogatory) An untestable explanation for something, such as a form of behaviour, a biological trait, or a cultural practice. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/just-so_story

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

If you think it's simple, then you have misunderstood the problem.   --Bjarne Stroustrup https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Bjarne_Stroustrup