Subspecies leucogaster, pale underbelly
Photo by Mat & Cathy
Ormiston Gorge, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
Photo by Mat & Cathy
Ormiston Gorge, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
- Geophaps plumifera
Identification
20–22 cm (7¾-8¾ in)
- Long spiky crest
- Rusty coloured overall plumage
- Red facial patch around the eye with a black arc above
- Grey and black facial patches
- Black striations on wings
Sexes similar.
Distribution
Australia: found in Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Subspecies ferruginea, rusty-red underbelly
Photo by Mike Bouette
Pilbara, Western Australia, July 2015
Photo by Mike Bouette
Pilbara, Western Australia, July 2015
There are 3 subspecies[1]:
- G. p. ferruginea:
- West Australia (De Grey River to Gascoyne River and Carnarvon Range)
- G. p. plumifera:
- Western Australia (Edgar Range) to western Northern Territory
- G. p. leucogaster:
- Central Australia to north-western Queensland and north-eastern South Australia
Habitat
Rocky outcrops arid grassland with spinifex clumps, near water.
Behaviour
Diet
Their diet consists almost entirely of grain.
Breeding
The clutch consists of 2 white eggs, which are laid in the shelter of a spinifex bush. They can breed throughout the year.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved September 2016)
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Spinifex Pigeon. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Spinifex_Pigeon
External Links
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