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11

Brush Bronzewing (Phaps elegans) Alternate name(s): "Brush Bronze-wing Pigeon", "Little Bronze Pigeon" Aboriginal name(s): Race "occidentalis": "ooda*", "moorytch*" (WA) Size: 25-33 cm Weight: 150-250 g

Australia: Family Group 11 Family Group 11 Table White-headed Pigeon Pied Imperial Pigeon Topknot Pigeon Crested Pigeon Spinifex Pigeon Flock Bronzewing Common Bronzewing Brush Bronzewing Squatter Pigeon Partridge Pigeon White-quilled Rock-Pigeon Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon Wompoo Fruit-Dove Superb Fruit Dove Rose-crowned Fruit Dove Emerald Dove Brown Cuckoo-Dove Wonga Pigeon Peaceful Dove Diamond Dove Bar-shouldered Dove Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Brush Bronzewings are medium-sized pigeons. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. male and female are slightly different. Males have a conspicuous rich yellow frons and some more yellow under a white stripe under the eyes. They also have a dark-brown throat patch. Females only have an inconspicuous pale-yellow frons and a small brown throat patch. Otherwise the plumage of both sexes is identical. The front (chest, belly, vent) is blue-grey, while the upper back (nape of the neck, mantle, side patches) is rich brown. The wings and uppertail are duller brown, with some iridescence on the wing feathers, which have dark-grey tips. The eyes are brown, the bill is black, while the legs and feet are pink. Twitcher's tip Brush Bronzewings have a darker, more inconspicuous appearance than Common Bronzewings.

Taxonomy, classification See Brush Bronzewing at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Brush Bronzewing is available HERE . Brush Bronzewings are endemic to Australia. There are two races of Brush Bronzewings, which populate the southern and eastern coastal fringe of the continent and Tasmania, including offshore islands. Race "elegans" is found along the East coast, South of about Maryborough, QLD, all the way to about Ceduna, SA. Race "occidentalis" is found in the south-western corner of WA, in a roughly triangular area from about Cape Arid NP to the tip of WA and up the West coast to about Jurien Bay, WA. Brush Bronzewing like wet forest and heathland, mostly in coastal regions, but also some types of mallee.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "elegans" B. Hensen reports spotting Brush Bronzewings, race "elegans", occasionally at Wattamolla, Royal NP, near Sydney. R. Plumtree reports finding Brush Bronzewings, race "elegans", at Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, in January 2018.

Photos

Race "elegans"

ADULT

MALE

Lateral view of a male Brush Bronzewing; note the deep red-brown mantle and chin patch (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a male Brush Bronzewing (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2018]

Pair of Brush Bronzewings in captivity, with the male on the right (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Food, Diet

Adults: Seeds

Dependents: Regurgitated seeds

Water intake: Daily

All pigeons and doves are strictly vegetarian. Brush Bronzewings are seed-eaters.

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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