Rock Pigeons (flock)

Description:

The Rock Pigeon, aka Rock Dove, is common in Australian cities and surrounding areas (much the same as in many other countries), and is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). Not to be confused with Australian native Rock Pigeon species (see notes). There is also an albino bird in this flock.

Habitat:

These "church-going" birds were spotted late afternoon at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, in the township of Laidley. This is a rural area in the Lockyer Valley, which is about an hours drive west of Brisbane.

Notes:

Petrophassa, commonly known as the rock pigeons, is a small genus of doves native to Australia, and similar to bronzewing pigeons (Phaps species). It includes 2 species: Chestnut-quilled rock pigeon (Petrophassa rufipennis), and the White-quilled rock pigeon (Petrophassa albipennis). They are not closely related to the rock pigeon (Columba livia) which includes domestic and feral pigeons as well as being a wild species of Europe, North Africa, and Asia.