The erect black crest and the metallic wing whistle in flight make this common pigeon unmistakable.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Galwalwarna, Mirriwili
At a glance
FamilyPigeons and Doves
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatThe crested pigeon is found in lightly wooded grasslands in both rural and urban areas, but they can also be seen at watercourses, homestead gardens, pastoral areas, sports grounds , and golf courses.
Best timeReported across most months in New South Wales, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Peter Boesman
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
776053approx records
6states
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
Feeds only on the ground. Takes flight with noisy wing-claps, and in flight has a wing-whistle which makes it sound like a wind-up toy. Common in open habitats and is often present in suburban areas.
Behavior
Mostly pale gray with bright iridescence on wings.
Gallery
Regional timing
Queensland
Northern Territory
South Australia
Western Australia
New South Wales
Victoria
Australian Capital Territory
Tasmania