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Topknot Pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus) Alternate name(s): "Flock Pigeon"; NB: The name "Topknot Pigeon" (or "Toppy") is often mistakenly used for the Crested Pigeon. Aboriginal name(s): "barbam"/"baruban"/"barbung" [bundjalung]; "gulgal" [ngadjon] Size: 40-45 cm Body mass: 470-600 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 Topknot Pigeons are large pigeons. The plumage of both sexes is identical. The front is all grey, cap, cheeks and neck are also grey. The wings are darker grey, with black tips. The tail is prominently barred black and grey. The frons is covered by a tuft of grey feathers, the nape of the neck has a brown crest, while the mantle is striated in various shades of grey. The eyes are red. The bill is reddish, the legs are covered with feathers, while the feet are the colour of skin. Juveniles do not have a well-developed crest yet, but otherwise resemble adult Topknot Pigeons. Their bill is greyish.

Taxonomy, classification See Topknot 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 Topknot Pigeon is available HERE . Topknot Pigeons are endemic to Australia. They are only found on a narrow strip along the East coast of Australia, from the tip of Cape York peninsula, QLD, in the North to eastern VIC in the South. However, they are also present at some locations further inland, e.g. at Bunya Mountains NP in QLD (see below). Topknot Pigeons can be found in and around rainforest and dense forest, but also in urban parks and in gardens with ripe fruit.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Since 2011, we - and various contributors - have over the years found Topknot Pigeons in various locations along the eastern (near-)coastal fringe and the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range of Australia, throughout NSW and in southern QLD, e.g. in Bunya Mountains NP, QLD, Dorrigo NP, at O'Reilly's Plateau, Lamington NP, Gold Coast, QLD, and also in Ravensbourne NP, QLD, in particular when the local fig trees were fruiting. They were also found on Lady Elliott Island, off the coast of southern QLD, in January 2016. B. Hensen reports spotting Topknot Pigeons at Julatten, QLD, in July 2013. A. Lee reports finding a flock of Topknot Pigeons at East Russell, near Cairns, QLD, in June 2018. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours spotted Topkot Pigeons along the Daintree River, QLD, in July 2024.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal/ventral view of a Topknot Pigeon issuing its call (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Glorious, Gold Coast hinterland, QLD, May 2020]

Near-frontal view of a Topknot Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Maleny, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral view of a Topknot Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Maleny, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral portrait of a Topknot Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Springbrook NP, QLD, February 2017]

Lateral view of a Topknot Pigeon (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, October 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a Topknot Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Maleny, QLD, August 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Topknot Pigeon (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, October 2016]

Dorsal view of a Topknot Pigeon
[Ravensbourne NP, QLD, March 2016]

Small flock of Topknot Pigeons perched in a tree (photo courtesy of A. Lee)
[East Russell, near Cairns, QLD, June 2018]

Lateral view of two Topknot Pigeons in flight above rainforest
[Dorrigo NP, NSW, January 2011]

Lateral/ventral view of two Topknot Pigeons in flight
[Dorrigo NP, NSW, January 2011]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Topknot Pigeon; note the absence of a prominent crest
[Ravensbourne NP, QLD, March 2016]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive

Elementary unit: Flock

Food, Diet

All pigeons and doves are strictly vegetarian. Topknot Pigeons are primarily fruit-eaters.

Topknot Pigeon feeding on the fruit of a palm (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree River, QLD, July 2024]

Topknot Pigeon feeding on the fruit of privet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Maleny, QLD, August 2019]

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.

topknot_20150328.m4a	(NE NSW)	Contact call?	© MD
topknot_20150328_2.m4a	(NE NSW)	Contact call? (Q&A)	© MD

More Topknot 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.