Spinifex Pigeon
Geophaps plumifera· 鸠鸽科(2 photos)
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Spinifex Pigeon
20-24 cm. Plump little rusty-buff pigeon with tall sandy crest and wavy black barrings on wings. Immature: duller, plainer. Nominate race: underparts white. Race ferruginea, 'Red Spinifex Pigeon': underparts rusty-buff. Pairs, small flocks: runs, dodges through rocks, grasses; flushes with sudden whirr or clatter; flies low, fast, with flips, glides, exposing large copper patch on rounded wings, blackish outer tail feathers. Tame around habitation, camping grounds.
- Other name
- Red Spinifex or Plumed Pigeon.
- Voice
- soft, high-pitched 'coo' or 'cooloo-coo'; deep guttural 'coo-r-r-r'.
- Habitat
- near water in rocky, hilly country; spinifex, Triodia, on sandridges; acacia scrubs, grassy woodlands, creekbeds, etc.
- Breeding
- spring-summer, or after rain.
- Eggs
- 2; white; laid on ground in shelter of spinifex-clump, low bush.
- Range & Status
- n. inland Aust. Nominate race: s. C. York Pen., Gulf coast, Q-NT; inland through sw. Q-n. SA; most NT, (except Top End), to Kimberley (WA). Race ferruginea: nw. WA, from Eighty Mile Beach-Pilbara s. to c. Gascoyne R., inland to c. Meekatharra. Common; sedentary.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Geophaps plumifera leucogaster 2. Geophaps plumifera ferruginea 3. Geophaps plumifera plumifera
