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Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) Alternate name(s): "Crested Bronzewing"; MISNOMER: "Toppy" (="Top-knot Pigeon"*) Aboriginal name(s): Race "lophotes": "gulawuliil" [yuwaalaraay], "warakoota"; "wuRep" [tjapwurrung]; Race "whitlocki": "kakara" (WA) Size: 31-35 cm; wing span: ca. 45 cm Body mass: 145-260 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 Black-Banded Fruit-Dove Wompoo Fruit-Dove Superb Fruit Dove Rose-crowned Fruit Dove Pacific Emerald Dove Nicobar Pigeon 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

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Crested Pigeons are medium-sized pigeons. The plumage of both sexes is identical. Their characteristic feature is a long, whispy black crest. The head and body are grey, while the wings are brownish-grey, with black stripes and green to purple iridescent feathers with white tips. The tail also has a white terminal band. The yellow eyes are surrounded by a red eye-ring. The bill is grey, the legs and feet are red. Juvenile Crested Pigeons have duller colours than adults. Western race "whitlocki" has narrower black wing bars and much more chestnut-coloured back and shoulders than nominate race "lophotes". Twitcher's tip Crested Pigeons can easily be distinguished by their long, whispy crest and by the sound of their unique "whirring" wingbeat.

Taxonomy, classification See Crested Pigeon at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Crested Pigeon is available HERE . Crested Pigeons are endemic to Australia. They are found over most of the Australian continent, with a few exceptions. They are most common in the south-eastern and eastern parts of the continent, i.e. VIC, NSW, south-east QLD and the eastern half of SA. They are also commonly found in the western half of WA and in most areas South of the tropic of Capricorn, except the major sandy deserts from about the Nullarbor to the Pilbara. They are only rarely found in the Kimberley and the northern parts of the NT and QLD. They are not found in the Top End of the NT and the tip of Cape York peninsula; there are no Crested Pigeons in Tasmania either. The division between the two races follows roughly the border of WA with the NT and SA (a line connecting the Kimberley with the Nullarbor). West of that line race "whitlocki" is found, East of the border there is nominate race "lophotes". Crested Pigeons can be found in various types of habitats, from open forests with grassy undergrowth via open grassland near water to urban environments such as parks and gardens. They are the species of pigeon that most easily adapts to the presence of humans, often nesting close to buildings. They are usually not found in dense forest and woodland, where Common Bronzewings remain the more common species. Where to look? How to find this species? Apart from introduced doves/pigeons, Crested Pigeons adapt best to the presence of humans. They are the only native species of pigeon that will regularly be found in urban environments. Their crests make identification easy.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "lophotes" Crested Pigeons, nominate race "lophotes", are common throughout inland NSW, including the Narrabri area, where they are probably the most common type of dove or pigeon. They can adapt to human presence and are therefore sometimes quite easy to approach. The sound of their characteristic wingbeat is easily distinguishable from that of any other kind of bird, including other doves and pigeons. We have also sighted Crested Pigeons, race "lophotes", in various locations in, and to the East of, the Great Dividing Range. D. Wilczynska reports spotting Crested Pigeons, race "lophotes", at Uluru, NT, in March 2015. J. Greaves reports spotting Crested Pigeons, race "lophotes", at the Granites Gold Mine, NT, in June 2015. P. Brown found Crested Pigeons, race "lophotes", in the township of Katherine, NT, in July 2020. M. Eaton spotted Crested Pigeons, race "lophotes", in Torquay, VIC, in April 2022, and at the Arid Lands Botanical Garden, Port Augusta, SA, in June 2022. Others were found at Yulara, NT, in October 2022. Race "whitlocki" J. Greaves reports seeing Crested Pigeons, race "whitlocki", regularly in WA, e.g. in Perth, Albany and Broome. They were also spotted at Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, in August 2016. M. Pears found Crested Pigeons, race "whitlocki", at Exmouth, WA, in May 2021. Others were found at Mellenbye Station, ca. 50 km NE of Morawa, WA, in September 2022. C. Pears spotted a Crested Pigeon, race "whitlocki", at the Dunsborough golf club, at the base of Cape Naturaliste, WA, in May 2022. Others were found in Broome, WA, in July 2024, and again in June 2025. C. D. Pears reports finding a Crested Pigeon, race "whitlocki", at Karijini NP, WA, in July 2026.

Photos

Race "lophotes"

ADULT

PAIR

Close-up near-frontal/lateral view of a pair of Crested Pigeons
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2026]

Lateral view of a pair of Crested Pigeons on the ground
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2012]

Lateral view of a pair of Crested Pigeons resting in the shade (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Gilgandra, NSW, January 2014]

Pair of Crested Pigeons seen preening (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2013]

MALE

Close-up near-frontal view of a male Crested Pigeon; the sex was not determined by the bird's morphology, but by its behaviour (it had just been competing with another male)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a male Crested Pigeon
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2023]

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of a Crested Pigeon looking sideways
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, near Burren Junction, NSW, March 2026]

Near-frontal view of a Crested Pigeon feeding on the ground
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, 2010]

Near-frontal view of a Crested Pigeon looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2022]

Near-lateral view of a Crested Pigeon
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, 2010]

Close-up lateral view of a Crested Pigeon looking towards the observer
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, near Burren Junction, NSW, March 2026]

Close-up lateral view of a Crested Pigeon looking towards the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2011]

Close-up lateral portrait of a Crested Pigeon
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2024]

Iris scan of a Crested Pigeon
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2025]

Close-up lateral portrait of a Crested Pigeon
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2008]

Close-up lateral view of a Crested Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Torquay, VIC, April 2022]

Lateral view of a Crested Pigeon; note how here the speculum shows a spectrum of colours...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2009]

... while here the Crested Pigeon's speculum remains inconspicuous
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2012]

Lateral view of a Crested Pigeon feeding on a lawn in an urban park
[Walgett, NSW, September 2012]

Lateral view of a Crested Pigeon (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a Crested Pigeon looking towards the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2011]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a Crested Pigeon
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2011]

Dorsal view of a Crested Pigeon in mellow light (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, September 2014]

Dorsal view of a Crested Pigeon snoozing on a fence gate
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2013]

Family of Crested Pigeons on a thorny shrub (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

Size comparison between a Crested Pigeon and a Peaceful Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2012]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up lateral portrait of a Crested Pigeon; the dull colours and the inconspicuous orbital skin, together with the neatness of the plumage indicate that this may be a juvenile
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2020]

Ventral view of a family of Crested Pigeons roosting in a eucalypt tree; two dependent juveniles in the middle are sheltered by their parents
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2009]

Hypermelanistic Crested Pigeons

In October 2022, M. Eaton found two hypermelanistic Crested Pigeons (with excess dark colour pigmentation) at Yulara, NT.

Lateral view of an hypermelanistic Crested Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yulara, NT, October 2022]

Lateral view of a resting hypermelanistic Crested Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yulara, NT, October 2022]

Near-frontal view of a second hypermelanistic Crested Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yulara, NT, October 2022]

Lateral view of a second hypermelanistic Crested Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yulara, NT, October 2022]

Race "whitlocki"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Crested Pigeon looking at the observer (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Broome, WA, July 2024]

Near-frontal view of a Crested Pigeon (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Broome, WA, April 2015]

Near-frontal view of a Crested Pigeon (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Broome, WA, April 2015]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Crested Pigeon (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Broome, WA, July 2024]

Lateral view of a Crested Pigeon (photo courtesy of C. D. Pears)
[Karijini NP, WA, July 2026]

Lateral view of a Crested Pigeon; note the particularly long upper mandible of this bird (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Austin Bay, near Mandurah, WA, March 2017]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Crested Pigeon looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Broome, WA, July 2024]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Crested Pigeon (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Broome, WA, July 2024]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Crested Pigeon looking backwards (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Broome, WA, July 2024]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Crested Pigeon (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Broome, WA, April 2015]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Jan

Eggs: 2

Incubation period: 18 - 20 days

Fledging age: 21 days

Given the right conditions, Crested Pigeons can breed any time of the year.

Additional information

A. Morris reports that Crested Pigeons like to take advantage of the protection offered by nesting under a Grey Butcherbird nest. There is now a separate page about various bird species nesting under the umbrella of a stronger, protective species.

Crested Pigeon chick that was rescued after it, together with its nest, came down in high winds in September 2011; the chick, in a cardboard box containing the sad remains of the nest, was placed back in the tree where it had come from and business continued as usual; photo courtesy of R. Druce

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Rudimentary basket

Material: Twigs

Height above ground: 1 - 6 m

Lateral view of a fledging-age Crested Pigeon chick in its nest - this bird left the nest hours after the photo was taken, before nightfall
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2017]

Lateral view of two Crested Pigeon chicks in their nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2026]

Overview of a Crested Pigeon nest with two chicks
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2026]

Closer view of a Crested Pigeon nest with two chicks
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2026]

Close-up view of a Crested Pigeon chick in its nest; the second egg did not hatch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2017]

Close-up frontal view of a Crested Pigeon on its well-hidden nest in a dense shrub
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2026]

Close-up lateral portrait of a Crested Pigeon on its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2026]

Close-up lateral portrait of a Crested Pigeon on its rather substantial nest of twigs, lined with feathers
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, April 2006]

Lateral view of a Crested Pigeon on its nest, in the same tree as a year before
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2012]

Crested Pigeon moving positions on its nest, thereby allowing a good view of one of its chicks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, August 2017]

Crested Pigeon squatting down to brood its chicks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, August 2017]

Close-up view of a Crested Pigeon nest with a full complement of two eggs; note the pinkish, semi-translucent nature of the egg in front, which had only just been laid
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2026]

Close-up view of a Crested Pigeon nest with a full complement of two eggs; note how the difference in colour of the eggs is almost lost when using a flash
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2026]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 31 x 23 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Tapered oval

Crested Pigeon's nest with first one fresh egg...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2018]

... and the next day two; note that the fresh egg is still pinkish and partially translucent
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2018]

Crested Pigeon nest with a full complement of two eggs; the fresh egg, in front, is still pinkish
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2026]

Close-up view of two Crested Pigeon eggs
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2026]

A serious potential source of predatory loss for Crested Pigeons: Goannas
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair/small flock

When nesting Crested Pigeons don't mind close proximity to humans. The nest shown above was at a height of about 2 m in a tree right next to our neighbour's driveway. It was built in a tree with dense foliage and a multitude of branches, which is typical for Crested Pigeons. Approaching the nest for a close-range photo was no problem at all; the bird on the nest did not let itself be disturbed.

Males put up displays for the females they are courting from conspicuous places, such as fenceposts.

Male Crested Pigeon displaying its plumage to impress a female (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, September 2014]

Dorsal view of a male Crested Pigeon displaying its plumage to impress a female; since he is not posing for the camera, but the female, the "wrong" side is shown here...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2010]

Like other species of doves and pigeons, Crested Pigeons are seen to lift one of their wings occasionally, possibly for evaporative cooling.

Crested Pigeon lifting one of its wings (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)

Pair of Crested Pigeons both lifting a wing
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

Here an example of Crested Pigeons engaging in a bonding ritual.

A bit of Crested Pigeon "TLC": You scratch my back...
[Near Narrabri, NSW, 2004]

... I scratch yours!
[Near Narrabri, NSW, 2004]

In December 2024 we observed a Lace Monitor enter a dense shrub, from which then two distressed near-fledging age Crested Pigeon chicks emerged. One scrambled into nearby cover, the other ducked - and was caught by the goanna.

Hapless Crested Pigeon chick being killed by a Lace Monitor
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2024]

Hapless Crested Pigeon chick being devoured by a Lace Monitor, in one piece, head first
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2024]

Food, Diet

Adults: Seeds

Dependents: Regurgitated seeds

Water intake: Daily

All pigeons and doves are strictly vegetarian. Crested Pigeons are seed-eaters.

Crested Pigeons drinking en masse (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Strzelecki track, SA, September 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

Doves and pigeons do not, like other birds, open their bills when calling, but they rather "hum" through their noses, with the bill closed.

crpige_20140411_2.mp3	lophotes (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
crpige_20210112_3.m4a	lophotes (NW NSW)	Male wooing female	© MD

We have also recorded the typical "whirring" wing beat of a Crested Pigeon.

crpige_20150415.mp3	lophotes (NW NSW)	Straight level flight	© MD
crpige_20210112.m4a	lophotes (NW NSW)	Passing by	© MD
crpige_20140423_3.mp3	lophotes (NW NSW)	Arrival	© MD
crpige_20150808_2.m4a	lophotes (NW NSW)	Male's arrival & courting	© MD
crpige_20260503.m4a	lophotes (NW NSW)	Departure from the ground	© MD
crpige_20200302.m4a	lophotes (NW NSW)	Departure	© MD
crpige_20190227.m4a	lophotes (NW NSW)	Pair departure	© MD
crpige_20140423_4.mp3	lophotes (NW NSW)	Short flutter	© MD

More Crested Pigeon sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.