A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Phaps chalcoptera
Large pigeon with stunning feather colours and patterns, underneath body is soft grey blending into pink/grey and edged in soft blue/grey extending behind neck/head area, wings display a pattern of irridescent colour that changes with the movement of the bird from greens and turquoise to reds and firey orange and green, darker grey wings and tail feathers also edged with white, head is purplish grey extending through eyes and beak, under eye white stripe, crown is white with smudge of soft tan colour to front, eye dark, legs pinkish. Soft but loud and continuous oom oom call (often mistaken for an owl call). A very wary bird, feeds on seeds and native grasses.
Found throughout Australia in the drier woodlands, forests and scrub country, avoiding very wet environments.
Spotted on Nov 27, 2013
Submitted on Nov 27, 2013
19 Comments
Thanks Fyn and Aisse! Relatively plain looking until the light catches on those particular sections of the wings.
So beautiful!
Yep, these feathers can be sparkling in the right light. We must be attentive! I've been through this situation! :D
Thanks Aisse G. Another photographer with me also achieved a few similar photos catching the light on the wings at just the right angle, some of our other images were not as good as we snapped the camera button but missed what we saw through the viewfinder, and it was split second timing as the birds moved into and out of the sunlight.
Super pigeon! OMG it is beautiful!!
That is one beautiful pigeon!
You might be right Mark, or at the very least it has newly moulted feathers. I presume the color is caused by structural interference (where the refraction off the structure of the feathers creates the colors, as opposed to pigments). In which case the angle of light striking them is crucial to the color perceived. It's the same process that causes the flash of color off a male hummingbird's gorget (chin).
Nice one KD
Amazing colour in this one. Ours are quite dull by comparison (Melbourne). Maybe it's the breeding season as well.
Excellent capture. I rarely see the bronze that brightly. We have a family that lives on our block all year round. I love listening to them softly 'booming" in the evening.
lovely pigeon!
Thankyou all for great comments and admiration for the Bronzewing. It's interesting to see the slight variations of this species evident in shots from others on this site. Thankyou for sharing your versions.
Nice shot!!
Lovely KD, thank you for this spectacular contribution and welcome to Project Noah!!
stunning colors!
Amazinf shot,beautiful bird kdpicturemaker,congrats and thanks for sharing
wow!! stellar spotting!! love the colors!!!
Beautiful
Beautiful feathers!