Bronzewing Pigeons at the Australian Reptile Park

Common Bronzewing Pigeon

The Common Bronzewing Pigeon is a widespread species in the mallee areas of South Australia where I live, as well as being relatively common throughout its range where suitable habitat exists. It is scarce in the drier parts of the continent.

The photos shown in today’s post were taken on a recent family visit to the Australian Reptile Park near Gosford north of Sydney.  These birds were not wild birds but individuals kept in one of the aviaries there. I feature them here because of their beautiful colours.

The bird immediately below this text is not as colourful. It could be a juvenile, or the lack of colour could be the angle of the sun on the feathers. It looks more fluffed up than normal; it was a very cold day.

The prominent yellow-buff colouring on the males in the top and bottom photos is particularly striking, something I haven’t observed in the natural environment. In their natural habitat they tend not to sit nicely like these in one of the walk through aviaries in the reptile park. I usually just see a blurred shape of a bird fast disappearing into the distance.

Common Bronzewing Pigeon

Common Bronzewing Pigeon