Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon — Australian Bird Identification Guide

Bird guideChestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon

Restricted to the sandstone escarpments of Arnhem Land, this pigeon roosts on sheer cliff faces where it is safe from predators.

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⚠️Not listed

🌿Endemic to Australia

At a glance

FamilyPigeons and Doves

SizeMedium

RarityUncommon

Habitatopen woodland, sparse woodland, closed forest, woody trees scattered, and grassland

Best timeMost reliable in Northern Territory from July to September.

Sounds

Sound sample

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Recorded by Greg McLachlan

Range map

Occurrence window

83visible hotspots

1936visible records

1states

Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

In flight, shows chestnut wing panels, and flies with a loud clattering of wings. Found only on the sandstone area of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, where it can be encountered at locations throughout Kakadu National Park and beyond.

Behavior

Often roosts on high rocky cliffs or on top of sandstone towers; comes down to the sandy ground in the early morning and evening.

Gallery

Regional timing

Northern Territory

Peak: July to September1,932 records

Commonly confused with

Black-banded Fruit-DovePtilinopus alligatorGenerally hard to find. Yellowish-white head and chest, black breast band, gray belly, dark gray back and wings, and pale tip to blackish tail. Compare Torresian Imperial-Pigeon, an almost entirely white bird, with the exception of black outer wing and black tail tip. Loud, slow, repeated booming call.→Partridge PigeonGeophaps smithiiPlain brown plumage, with white stripe along the edge of the breast. Distinctive facial markings, with comical red (Northern Territory) or yellow (Western Australia) facial skin. Takes flight with a loud clatter of wings.→