Wompoo Fruit Dove

Ptilinopus magnificus

Notes:

The Wompoo Fruit Dove (or Pigeon) truly lives up to its 'magnificus' scientific name. This is one of my bucket list birds and yesterday this pair revealed themselves in Conondale National Park - you beauty!!!!!! These birds are huge for pigeons - I couldn't tell you exactly how big these two were but they'd go close to the maximum of 55cm long. They have an amazing call, a deep, resonant 'whom-poo' that you feel right down in your chest (like when lions roar). Often heard but seldom seen as they are shy and spend most of their time eating fruit in the forest canopy, so I feel very privileged indeed. The first four shots are one specimen, and the fifth is its partner. This spotting absolutely made my day. : )

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19 Comments

ShannaB 11 years ago

Thank you Ronald and Toshimi!

ToshimiDowaki 11 years ago

Beautiful Dove and nice series!

Ronald Lo 11 years ago

Wow! So much colors on a single bird! :)

ShannaB 11 years ago

Thanks Leanne, I knew you'd share my excitement! ; )

LeanneGardner 11 years ago

Woohoooo! I feel your excitement Shanna! Congrats on your fabulous find :)

ShannaB 11 years ago

Thanks Cindy! : )

CindyBinghamKeiser 11 years ago

What a beauty! Nice series, Shanna.

ShannaB 11 years ago

Thanks kittuandme!

kittuandme 11 years ago

cool colours

ShannaB 11 years ago

Thanks Karen! I was so so scared the pics wouldn't turn out... you don't see these very often!!!!!!

KarenL 11 years ago

Wow! Beautiful Shanna!

ShannaB 11 years ago

Thanks Gerardo! And Scott, I did say it was a bucket list spotting! ; )

Gerardo Aizpuru 11 years ago

Beautiful fantastic encounter :)

Scott Frazier 11 years ago

oooohhhh, I've never been so lucky!

ShannaB 11 years ago

Thanks Tamara, Ashley, Sarah and Scott! I couldn't believe it when we saw them... I think we might have startled them off the ground because there was this great flurry of wings, and when we looked up there they were perched right above us. : )