We don’t always look closely at common birds and some of them are beautiful; I think Crested Pigeons fall into this category.
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Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)
Canon 7DII, 1/800, f/5.6, ISO 800, focal length 400mm
Crested Pigeons are relatively common across most of Australia, excluding Tasmania; they are about 33cm long and weigh approximately 200g.
Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)
Canon 7DII, 1/800, f/5.6, ISO 800, focal length 300mm
When Crested Pigeons take off their wings make a magical whistling sound which is created by air passing a specially modified wing feather. They characteristically lift their tails when they land as if balancing their sturdy little bodies. I was pleased with the way the shrub in the background provided a kind of halo for the pigeon’s head and crest.
This pigeon moved gradually towards me as it foraged, it was focussing on seeds but also took a couple of insects. The expression on its face makes me smile, I guess it’s not often it comes across someone flat out on the ground taking photographs.
Happy birding, Kim
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Hi, We have too many crested pigeons at home. They have bred very well and are now unfortunately becoming a pest here as they are eating my chicken feed and robbing my chooks not to mention the extra cost to my chicken food bill. I have counted 40 birds so far. I would like to relocate them to a bush area but wonder if they fly home and if so, how far to take them?
Oh my goodness, it sounds like you could use some of the chook feeders that I was photographing the other day. One relies on the weight of the chook to release the chicken feed – the Crested Pigeons wouldn’t be heavy enough. And the other is a simple hanging lidded tub with a hole drilled in the bottom with string threaded through. There is a small block of wood attached to the string that the chooks tap to release the food. A solution like this would restrict the food available to the pigeons and would be likely to reduce their feeding/breeding successes. Let me know if you’ve already tried this. I’m assuming that the pigeons have access to lots of your chook food from what you’ve mentioned…
Hi, we have a pair nest in our naturestrip tree each year but I’ve not seen them for several weeks until this morning. I wonder if anyone can shed some light on where they ‘go for their holiday”. Thx Don, Wantirna Sth Vic
I’m glad they’ve returned, Don. My best guess is that they headed off to where they could find more native seeds during the past weeks. I hope they successfully raise more nestlings in your nature strip tree this year
The usual brilliant work, Kim. Bit of a ‘recent arrival’, this species. Prior to their turning up in the Yarra Valley about 20 (?) years ago, remember Kyabram as my previous sighting. There are a resident flock at the Council Depot, Nelson Rd Lilydale. Gotta love that trademark ‘tipping forward’ after landing! Best wishes, JB.
Isn’t it interesting to be in a place long enough to know the comings and goings of different birds. Well, it’s not so good to see the ‘goings’. I’ve seen lots of ‘goings’ here along with a few new ones coming in. Last winter was the first year I haven’t seen Scarlet Robins, I hope they come next year, they are my favourite part of winter.
Lovely photos Kim.
One of my favourite birds.
I didn’t know that Carole, I’m glad you like these images of them.
tac sharp kim
Thanks Glenn!
I too love them.
Common they may be, but they are not ordinary.
I love the whirrr when they take off too.
Subtle charmers.
The whirr is definitely a smile-maker.
Once again, super photos ! I love these pigeons as we have quite a few pair that live around our home so I get to study them at length through binos. We have two acres of bush garden, inside 16 acres of regenerating grassland and Grey Box woodland .Plenty of room for breeding pairs. I have one pair not 3 metres from our back door, raising the second lot of nestlings this years . They’re hidden in a creeper on a fence 2 metres above a water bowl for birds dug into the ground under a tap and visited by magpies, noisy miners, both types of pardalote, fairy wrens, thornbills, 4 or 5 types of honeyeaters, and various skinks and probably an Eastern Brown or two !! All quite oblivious to the nesting above . Even the ravens and butcherbirds haven’t found this nest . We live near Numurkah in nth Vic
Hi Paul, this is the second time this week that I’ve heard about Numurkah, and both times it has sounded beautiful. Good on the Crested Pigeons for finding a perfect place to nest. Your property sounds wonderful, thank you for telling me about it.