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11

Spinifex Pigeon

(Geophaps plumifera)
Alternate name(s): "Plumed Pigeon", "Red Plumed Pigeon",
"Plumed Bronze-wing", "Plumed Dove", "Red Plumed Dove", "Ground Dove"

Size: 20-24 cm
Weight: 70-130 g
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Spinifex Pigeon at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "plumifera"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Attack Creek Rest Stop, Stuart Highway, NT, September 2021]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Attack Creek Rest Stop, Stuart Highway, NT, September 2021]

Lateral view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Dorsal view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Race "leucogaster"

ADULT

PAIR

Close-up near-frontal view of a pair of Spinifex Pigeons (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, July 2021]

Close-up near-frontal view of a pair of Spinifex Pigeons (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, July 2021]

Lateral view of a pair of Spinifex Pigeons (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, June 2021]

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, July 2021]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, July 2021]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, July 2021]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, June 2021]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, June 2021]

Close-up lateral view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, July 2021]

Lateral view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Ormiston Gorge, near Alice Springs, NT, July 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Diamantina NP, QLD, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of C. Charles)
[Diamantina Lakes NP, QLD, August 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, June 2021]

Dorsal view of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, June 2021]

Dorsal view of a Spinifex Pigeon resting on the ground (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Between Windorah and Bedourie, QLD, August 2022]

Race "ferruginea"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view from above of a Spinifex Pigeon (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Pilbara, WA, July 1992]

Behaviour

Close-up near-lateral view of a Spinifex Pigeon in its favourite type of habitat (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, July 2021]

Close-up view of a pair of Spinifex Pigeons in their favourite type of habitat (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, July 2021]

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a Spinifex Pigeon foraging on the ground (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Between Windorah and Bedourie, QLD, August 2022]

Near-lateral view of a Spinifex Pigeon drinking water (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, July 2021]

Pair of Spinifex Pigeons drinking water (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, July 2021]

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.

spinfex_me_20210605_2.m4a leucogaster
(W QLD)
Contact call © ME
spinfex_me_20210605.m4a leucogaster
(W QLD)
Contact calls (Q&A) © ME
spinfex_me_20210722.m4a leucogaster
(W QLD)
Contact calls (near water; + Brown Honeyeater) © ME

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.