Spotted Turtle Dove nestling

Streptopelia chinensis

Image by Melanie Barsony

Spotted Turtle Dove fledgling

Streptopelia chinensis

Image by Melanie Barsony

ROSE-CROWNED FRUIT DOVE (juvenile)

Ptilinopus regina

Image by Melanie Barsony

ROSE-CROWNED FRUIT DOVE (juvenile)

Ptilinopus regina

Image by Alicia Carter

ROSE-CROWNED FRUIT DOVE (juvenile)

Ptilinopus regina

Image by Melanie Barsony

ROSE-CROWNED FRUIT DOVE (juvenile)

Ptilinopus regina

Image by Melanie Barsony

ROSE-CROWNED FRUIT DOVE (juvenile)

Ptilinopus regina

Image by Melanie Barsony

ROSE-CROWNED FRUIT DOVE (juvenile)

Ptilinopus regina

Image by Melanie Barsony

Emerald Ground -Dove chicks

Chalcophaps indica

Image by Melanie Barsony

Emerald Ground -Dove chicks

Chalcophaps indica

Image by Melanie Barsony

Emerald Ground -Dove chick

Chalcophaps indica

Image by Melanie Barsony

Emerald Ground - Dove juvenile

Chalcophaps indica

Image by Melanie Barsony

Emerald Ground -Dove 5 weeks old

Chalcophaps indica

Image by Melanie Barsony

Emerald Ground - Dove

Chalcophaps indica

Image by Jane Donovan

White -headed Pigeon chick

Columba leucomela

Image by Elk Anstey

White -headed Pigeon chick

Columba leucomela

Image by Melanie Barsony

White -headed Pigeon chick

Columba leucomela

Image by Melanie Barsony

White -headed Pigeon chick

Columba leucomela

Image by Melanie Barsony

White -headed Pigeon chick

Columba leucomela

Image by Melanie Barsony

White-headed Pigeon male& female

Columba leucomela

Image by Alicia Carter

Wonga Pigeon

Leucosarcia melanoleuca

Image by Melanie Barsony

Wonga Pigeon

Leucosarcia melanoleuca

Image by Alicia Carter

Wonga Pigeon chick

Leucosarcia melanoleuca

Image by Alicia Carter

Wonga Pigeon chick

Leucosarcia melanoleuca

Image by Alicia Carter

Crested Pigeon nestling

Geophaps lophotes

Image by Melanie Barsony

Crested Pigeon juveniles

Geophaps lophotes

Image by Melanie Barsony

Crested Pigeon juveniles

Geophaps lophotes

Image by Melanie Barsony

Crested Pigeon juvenile

Geophaps lophotes

Image by Melanie Barsony

Crested Pigeon juvenile

Geophaps lophotes

Image by Melanie Barsony

Crested Pigeon

Geophaps lophotes

Image by Melanie Barsony

Wompoo pigeon

Image by Melanie Barsony

Interesting facts by Melanie Barsony

Pigeons

Topknot pigeons: Captain Cook first mentions them when the Endeavour was laid up in Cooktown. Early settlers used them for food and reported that flocks of several thousand birds were common. They still occupy their original range wherever the rainforest remains. They are strongly nomadic, concentrating on different fruiting trees.

 “It seems that some flocks traverse the full length of the Queensland coast. Some birds have even been seen returning to Cape York Peninsula from the sea, and occasionally a few have turned up in Tasmania. On the other hand the movements of some flocks are small in scale.” 

“There is no other obvious relationship between the topknot pigeon and other well defined groups of pigeons. It is perhaps the sole representative of a group of pigeons that has only survived in Aus.”  (Readers Digest Complete Book of Aus. Birds 1979)

Rose-crowned Fruit Dove: Locally nomadic, following fruits. It also makes longer journeys which are not fully understood but could be true migration.

Wompoo Pigeon; many are still shot in some places!! (According to RD bird book)  “Southern race now very rare due to extensive clearing and heavy shooting in remaining pockets.”

Brown Pigeon: Shot more than any other pigeon. Sometimes dry seed has been found in the crop.  Seldom travels far, weaker flyer perhaps because of its long tail and rounded wings.