White-headed Pigeon
White-headed Pigeon, walk-through aviary, Adelaide Zoo
The White-headed Pigeon is found along coastal Queensland and New South Wales in tropical and sub-tropical rainforests and scrubland. I know very little about this species because I’ve never seen it in its natural environment. One day I’ll make it to Queensland and see it.
In the meantime, I have to be satisfied with these photos taken in the walk-through aviary at Adelaide Zoo. It’s certainly a beautiful bird.
White-headed Pigeon, walk-through aviary, Adelaide Zoo
White-headed Pigeon, walk-through aviary, Adelaide Zoo
They’re supposed to be forest birds, but most of the ones I’ve seen have been feeding on the roadside verge just outside Atherton!
Mmmmm… interesting. Surprising how many species ignore the field guides and handbooks and don’t conform to their normal, expected patterns of behaviour. I’m convinced that they never bother to read the guides.
Just FYI. They are also in the Green Point, Kincumber area (habitat probably Kincumber Mountain) Central Coast, NSW. In fact, I rang Wires early this morning to come and rescue one with an injured wing I found in shrubbery of a suburban house at Green Point whilst on an early morning walk. Cheers.
I have a pair currently nesting no more than five metres from my front porch. They have one white egg they take turns incubating and they sit tight even whilst all the noisy renovations have been going on around the house. My large dog even chased one of them off the nest and barked like a maniac. However, the mother (or father) returned and the dog has now been confined to the house.
I shall start documenting and photographing the progress as I can clearly see them from the house or outside when I stand in my porch.