Spinifex Pigeon

Description:

The Spinifex Pigeon is readily identified by the red, white and black facial colouring and by the crest vertically above the head. There are three variants of this species, all have the same head and facial markings and colouring and rust-brown back and upper wings with darker brown scalloping. Versions differ in the shape of the breast band and colouring of breast and belly. Male and female are similarly coloured, juveniles are coloured as for adults but colouring is weaker and eye skin is khaki.

Habitat:

Lives among spinifex in rocky ranges and gorges

Notes:

They feed almost exclusively on seeds dropped by plants growing among spinifex hummocks. Spinifex seeds are an important part of their diet in the years spinifex flowers. Breeds throughout the year but most breeding takes place after annual rainfall about September to November. The nest is a scrape in the ground lined with a few pieces of grass; usually beside a rock or spinifex hummock. Two eggs are laid; cream rather glossy, ellipsoidal in shape, about 26 by 20 mm. Incubation takes 16 to 17 days by both parents. Young fledge in about eight days.