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11

Wonga Pigeon

(Leucosarcia picata [melanoleuca])
Aboriginal name(s): "wululuyn", "walarun", "wumbin", "jawbir" [bundjalung]; "wonga-wonga"
Size: 35-40 cm
Weight: 300-500 g
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Wonga Pigeon at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of an adult Wonga Pigeon; note the pink bare parts (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Mary Falls, QLD, July 2019]

Lateral view of a Wonga Pigeon foraging on the ground (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Copeland, NSW, February 2013]

Lateral view of a Wonga Pigeon (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Toonumbar State Forest, northern NSW, October 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a Wonga Pigeon (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Toonumbar State Forest, northern NSW, February 2017]

Ventral view of a Wonga Pigeon (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Toonumbar State Forest, northern NSW, February 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of an immature Wonga Pigeon; ; its plumage already shows the chevron pattern of an adult, but the bare parts - at the base of the bill and legs and feet - are still grey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Mary Falls, QLD, July 2019]

Near-lateral view of an immature Wonga Pigeon; ; its plumage already shows the chevron pattern of an adult, but the bare parts - at the base of the bill and legs and feet - are still grey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Mary Falls, QLD, July 2019]

Lateral view of an immature Wonga Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Forest Reserve, near Anstead, QLD, August 2017]

Close-up lateral view of an immature Wonga Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Forest Reserve, near Anstead, QLD, August 2017]

Near-dorsal view of an immature Wonga Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Forest Reserve, near Anstead, QLD, August 2017]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Oct - Feb Eggs: 2 Incubation period: 18 days Fledging age: 18 days

The breeding season of Wonga Pigeons depends to some degree on geographic latitude and may extend from September to March.

Nest building: ? Incubation: Female & male Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

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

Type: Rudimentary basket Material: Twigs Height above ground: 3 - 20 m

Wonga Pigeon on its nest in the typical cryptic posture, with the tail raised high (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, November 2017]

Wonga Pigeon on its nest in the typical cryptic posture, with the tail raised high - the tail is usually directed towards the potential threat, with the bird peeking around the tail or over the edge of the nest to check for danger (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, November 2017]

Apart from the rapid growth of the chicks, the photos below demonstrate at least two more things: 1. Like other doves and pigeons, Wonga pigeons do not keep their nest clean; 2. over the course of 9 days the rim of the nest has almost been destroyed by trampling feet - time to get out soon!

Wonga Pigeon with two fluffy grey chicks, left, and - only 9 days later - with near-adult size young, right
(photos courtesy of B. Hensen)

[St. Albans, NSW, December 2017]

Eggs

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

Size: 39 x 28 mm Colour: White Shape: Elliptical

Behaviour

Wonga Pigeons spend a lot of time foraging on the ground. When flushed, they fly up into the upper canopy with massive wing beats.

Food, Diet

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

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.

wonga_20170608.m4a (SE QLD) Contact calls
(in rainy conditions)
© MD
wonga_20170608_1.m4a (SE QLD) Contact calls; long
(in rainy conditions)
© MD
wonga_mm_20190915_bkgd.m4a (Carmila Beach, QLD) Contact calls
(with Orange-footed Scrubfowl)
© MM
wonga_mm_20190915.m4a (Carmila Beach, QLD) Contact calls © MM

More Wonga 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.