- Columba leucomela
Identification
38–42 cm (15-16½ in)
- White head, neck, breast and belly
- Slate-grey on flanks, vent and undertail-coverts
- Blackish upperparts
- Yellow-tipped red bill
- Red eye ring and legs
- Pale orange or yellow eyes
Juveniles have a grey crown and breast
Distribution
East coast of Australia.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Rain and gallery forests; sometimes seen in open areas. Also scrub, watercourses and on street trees.
Behaviour
Diet
Their main diet consists of fruit and seeds (they have the ability to digest quite hard seeds).
They will feed next to other species but if they feel threatened will defend themselves by raising their wings to make themselves look bigger. They will also deliver very quick multiple blows or strikes with their wings.
Breeding
They make a flimsy nest of loose twigs lay 1 cream egg. At least two broods are raised each year.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved Feb 2018)
- The Beauty of Birds
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-headed Pigeon. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 14 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-headed_Pigeon
