Crested Pigeon

Crested Pigeon
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Genus:	Ocyphaps G. R. Gray, 1842
Species:	O. lophotes
Binomial name
Ocyphaps lophotes (Temminck, 1822)

The Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) is a bird found widely throughout mainland Australia except for far tropical north areas. It is the only member of the genus Ocyphaps.There are only two Australian pigeon species that possess an erect crest, being the Crested Pigeon and the Spinifex Pigeon. The Crested Pigeon is the larger of the two species.

Description

Crested Pigeon

The length of the Crested Pigeon varies from 30 to 34 centimetres (12 to 13.6 inches). Colouration is grey with tinges of brown. It has a feathered but slender, black spike on top of head. They run with the crest erect. The periorbital skin is bright orange. Wings have black stripings and are bronzed, while the primary feathers have colourful areas of brown, purple, blue and green. Immature birds have duller colours with no bronzing on the wings.

The call is a "whoop"! voiced repeatedly but singly when alarmed.

Distribution and habitat

Habitat is grasslands, brush and wooded areas but they can also be seen at watercourses, homestead gardens, pastoral areas, sports grounds, and golf courses. Their habitat has expanded since settlement has produced pastoral lands (previously they were only found in inland and Western Australia). Foraging for grain, has adapted to grain farming areas, often feeding on the noxious weed of Salvation Jane. They are commonly known as the topknot pigeon.

Behaviour

Their most distinctive behaviour is the beating and whistling sound their wings make when they take off. This is most likely to draw the attention of predators to birds on the wing, and away from any birds remaining on the ground and as an alarm call to other pigeons ^[1]. When the birds land, the tail tilts upwards and the flight patterns are similar to the those of the Spotted Turtle-Dove. They are generally sedentary. Although can be seen in pairs but they can be highly social and tend to be seen in packs. They are highly gregarious birds when in contact with humans.

Breeding

While they breed throughout the year, it is more common in the warmer months. Males approach females and begin an elaborate mating dance; they bob their bodies up and down, while opening and closing their wings like a fan with each bob. This is accompanied by a soft hooting which is timed with the bobbing. If the female is interested, she will remain generally stationary as the male approaches, until copulation is attempted. Nesting usually occurs in shrubs or trees. Nests usually consist of a platform of twigs. They lay two oval, white and glossy eggs. The eggs usually hatch 3 weeks after they were laid. Both parents incubate the eggs.

References

1. ^ Gill, Victoria (2 September 2009). "Pigeons' wings sound the alarm". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8232570.stm. Retrieved 2009-09-02. 

• BirdLife International (2004). Ocyphaps lophotes. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
• Pizzey and Knight, "Field Guide to the Birds of Australia", Angus & Robertson, ISBN 0-207-19691-5
• Trounsen and Trounsen, "Australian Birds: A Concise Photographic Field Guide, Cameron House. ISBN 1-875999-47-7.

External links

• Indigenous Australian Legend About Why The Crested Pigeon Is Found In Packs
• Birds in Backyards
• Crested Pigeons - Honolulu Zoo