If startled, the Crested Pigeon takes to the air with a characteristic whistling flight, and glides with down turned wings. The whistling sound is produced by the air passing over a modified primary feather on the wing. Upon landing, the pigeon swings its tail high in the air.
The Crested Pigeon is a stocky pigeon with a conspicuous thin black crest. Most of the plumage is grey-brown, becoming more pink on the underparts.
The wings are barred with black, and are decorated with glossy green and purple patches. The head is grey, with a pinkish-red ring around the eye.
Average size is 33cm and average weight is 207 grams.
Loud coo-whoo or coo. Bird call recorded by: Greg McLachlan
The Crested Pigeon is native to Australia and is common throughout most of mainland Australia.
Habitat: Woodland, Urban, Grassland
The Crested Pigeon is found in lightly wooded grasslands in both rural and urban areas. It is usually found in the vicinity of water, as it has to drink every day, and is absent from the denser forests.
The Crested Pigeon is one of several species which has successfully made the transition from a common inland bird to a common urban bird.
Crested Pigeons were once restricted to arid and semi-arid zones of inland Australia, with only vagrants recorded closer to the coast.
Adelaide was the first major city that they colonised, and later, in quick succession they were recorded in both Brisbane and Perth, on opposite sides of the continent.
Now they are common in Sydney and increasingly so in Canberra and Melbourne.
The Crested Pigeon’s diet consists mostly of native seeds, as well as those of introduced crops and weeds.
Some leaves and insects are also eaten. Feeding is in small to large groups, which also congregate to drink at waterholes.
Birds arrive in nearby trees, and often sit for long periods before descending to drink. Drinking and feeding are most common in morning and evening, but can occur at any time.
The Crested Pigeon builds a delicate nest of twigs, placed in a tree or dense bush. Clutch size is 2 eggs.
Both sexes share the incubation of the eggs (21 days), and both care for the young. The nestling period is 21 days. Breeding season is usually September to March, but they can breed at any time.
