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DESCRIPTION

Sexes similar in appearance. 30 to 35 centimetres in length. Grey head with fine pointed, long, dark grey, erect crest. Grey over most of body with green tinge. Soft fawn-brown and dark brown bars across wing. Speculum iridescent green, violet and gold, edged with white. Feet are deep pink. Skin around eye is red and iris is red-orange. Bill is black.

Juvenile: Similar to adult with shorter crest and duller in colour.

Voice: Musical "whoo-whoo", usually starting soft then lifting and strengthening. Also a very quick "whoop".

The Crested Pigeon can be found throughout most of Australia, but is absent from Tasmania. It is usually seen in flocks or small groups feeding on the ground. When in flight it accelerates with vigorous bursts of whistling wingbeats. The pigeon prefers a habitat of open woodland, scrubland, farmland, and back yards. It avoids denser bushland and coastal habitat. It breeds after rain in dryer areas mostly between July and December, but year round in the northern areas. The nest is a frail platform of twigs about 15 to 30 centimetres across and is built in dense foliage one to six metres off the ground. Two clutches per season are incubated by both sexes which takes around 18 to 20 days. Young leave the nest at around 3 weeks of age. The Crested Pigeon is considered quite common throughout its range, which is expanding with land clearing.