Spinifex Pigeon
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 White-bellied Spinifex Pigeon in King's Canyon, Australia
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| Geophaps plumifera Gould, 1842 |
The Spinifex Pigeon Geophaps plumifera is a bird found in Australia.
There are only two Australian pigeon species that possess an erect crest, being the Spinifex Pigeon and the Crested Pigeon. The Spinifex Pigeon is the smaller of the two with length from 20 to 24 centimetres (8 to 9.6 inches). There are two races, the White-bellied Spinifex Pigeon, Geophaps plumifera plumifera, which is permanantely found in the arid areas of north western, northern, eastern and central Australia. The Red-bellied Spinifex Pigeon, Geophaps plumifera ferruginea is the second race, and can be permanently found the Pilbara, Western Australia.
Otherwise, both races have plumage that is rusty coloured, which blends into the red soils of the arid areas. They also have a bright red facial patch around the eye with a ring of black and grey facial patches. The pigeons have black striations on their wings. The genders are difficult to distinguish.
Generally they live in stony areas with low woodlands and spinifex grasses. They are nomadic and terristrial. The pigeons are seed eaters and are dependent on waterholes recharged by wet season monsoonal rains and showers. As the dry season progresses they concentrate around the ever decreasing water sources. They are often found in pairs or groups.
Their flight is low and fast, often flipping and gliding in the flight. Their call is a high-pitched coo or a deep coo-r-r-r.
The species breed in spring and summer or after rain. Two white eggs are laid in the shelter of a spinifex bush.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Geophaps plumifera. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Birdkeeping Australia -Spinifex Pigeon
- Trounsen and Trounsen, "Australian Birds: A Concise Photographic Field Guide, Cameron House. ISBN 1-875999-47-7.
