Bird guideWhite-headed Pigeon

Unlike most pigeons, it is almost exclusively arboreal, feeding on fruit high in the canopy of rainforest trees.

⚠️Not listed
🌿Endemic to Australia

At a glance

FamilyPigeons and Doves
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatThis species is found in wetter areas along the east coast of Australia.
Best timeReported across most months in New South Wales, with no narrow seasonal peak.

Sounds

Sound sample
0:000:00
Recorded by Peter Boesman

Range map

Range map

200approx hotspots
64488approx records
2states
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

Red eye and eye ring, with a pale bill that has a red base. Eats tree fruits and is often seen perched on nearby power-lines. This species is found in wetter areas along the east coast of Australia.

Behavior

Their call is loud and gruff sounding like "WHOO!" followed by a gruff inhalation sounding "uk" (repeated three times). Sometimes the call is a low "oom". The pigeon's habitat is from Cooktown, Queensland to southern New South Wales , with increasing numbers now found in eastern Victoria.

Regional timing

Queensland
Peak: October to April19,230 records
New South Wales
Peak: January to August43,356 records
Victoria
Peak: November1,791 records
Australian Capital Territory
Peak: April to August79 records
South Australia
Peak: June1 records
Tasmania
Peak: February to March2 records
© BetterBirdingAustralian bird pages, free in the app, with every feature unlocked.Privacy