Rose-crowned Fruit Dove

The Rose-crowned Fruit Dove is a small, vividly patterned fruit dove with a bright green back and wings, a grey head and breast, and a distinctive rose-pink patch covering the crown, bordered at the front by a narrow band of yellow. The lower belly shows a bold, rich orange-yellow patch that contrasts with the surrounding green and grey plumage, making this one of the most colorful small birds of Australia's tropical and subtropical forests.

Like other fruit doves, it depends heavily on fruiting fig trees and can be difficult to observe well despite its bright colors, often remaining still and quiet high in the canopy while feeding.

Key field marks

• Rose-pink crown patch bordered with a narrow yellow band
• Grey head, throat, and breast
• Bright green back and wings
• Rich orange-yellow patch on the lower belly

Similar species

• Superb Fruit Dove male has a deep purple (not rose-pink) crown and an additional orange nape band and grey chest band, making the pattern more complex.
• Wompoo Fruit Dove is much larger with a grey head and magenta breast rather than a pink crown.

Habitat

Inhabits rainforest, monsoon forest, and vine thickets, particularly where fig trees are present.

Range

Found across northern and eastern Australia, from the Kimberley region of Western Australia across the Top End and Cape York, south along the east coast to around central New South Wales.

Migration

Partly nomadic and locally migratory, with movements tracking the fruiting of key food trees, particularly figs.

Behavior

Forages quietly in the canopy of fruiting trees, often in small groups where food is abundant, and can be surprisingly inconspicuous despite bright plumage.

Voice

A distinctive, accelerating series of soft cooing notes, often described as a rolling "wok-wok-wok-wok" building in speed.

Feeding

Feeds almost entirely on fruit, especially figs, swallowing them whole.

Nesting

Builds a small, flimsy platform nest of twigs in a tree; lays a single white egg.