Crested Pigeon

The Crested Pigeon is a slender, grey-brown pigeon easily recognized by its thin, upright black crest rising from the crown, a feature unlike any other Australian pigeon. The wings show bold, iridescent green and purple patches edged with black-and-white bars, and the underparts are a soft pinkish-grey.

One of the most widespread and adaptable pigeons in Australia, it has expanded its range considerably in recent decades and is now a common sight in city parks and suburban streets as well as its traditional open country haunts. When taking flight, its wings produce a distinctive whistling or whirring sound, created by air passing through modified flight feathers, that alerts other pigeons to danger.

Key field marks

• Thin, upright black crest on the crown, unique among Australian pigeons
• Grey-brown body with a pinkish wash on the breast
• Iridescent green-and-purple patches on the folded wing, bordered with black-and-white bars
• Distinctive whistling wing noise produced in flight

Similar species

• Spinifex Pigeon has a similar upright crest but is much smaller, rufous-cinnamon in color, and restricted to arid spinifex country.
• Common Bronzewing lacks a crest and shows a more uniform brown body with an iridescent wing patch.

Habitat

Occupies open woodland, farmland, grassland, scattered scrub, and increasingly urban parks, gardens, and streets.

Range

Widespread across mainland Australia, largely absent only from the wettest tropical far north and the driest deserts; its range has expanded significantly in recent decades, particularly into urban areas.

Migration

Mostly sedentary, though it can be locally nomadic in response to water and food availability in arid regions.

Behavior

Often seen foraging on open ground in pairs or small flocks, walking with a bobbing head motion; the wings produce a sharp whistling sound in flight, thought to serve as an alarm signal to other pigeons.

Voice

A soft, low, crooning coo, along with the characteristic whistling sound of the wings in flight.

Feeding

Feeds almost entirely on seeds of grasses and other plants, foraged from open ground.

Nesting

Builds a flimsy platform nest of sticks in a tree or shrub; lays 2 cream-colored eggs.