Crested Pigeons as pet birds
239 Comments »16th November, 2006; Category: Aviaries, Bird Behaviour, Caring for birds, Great Birding Moments, Pigeons and Doves
Crested Pigeon
I recently had a rather interesting comment on an earlier post of mine about Crested Pigeons (see Great Birding Moments #5 Crested Pigeons).
Karen wrote:
I have a crested pigeon sitting on my shoulder at the moment. I went for a walk one morning and saw her on the footpath. She ran towards me, not usual pigeon behaviour. I picked her up, she cooed and closed her eyes. I took her home and fed her and she has stayed. She follows me around the house and is the most inquisitive bird I have ever known. She is quite content to be scratched around the head and calls to me whenever I enter the room. She was obviously someone’s pet but I had no success in locating them. I originally had intended to feed her up and let her go again but she is so tame she would have been a danger to herself. She lives with my 3 cockatiels and probably thinks that she is one.
What an amazing experience! Karen is certainly right in deducing that it is someone’s pet, because the behaviour is certainly consistent with a bird that has been used to being handled.
Crested Pigeons are reasonably common in aviculture, especially in zoo collections. This species normally requires a large planted aviary and will breed readily in captivity.
I find it interesting that it is quite at ease in her home and with the Cockatiels. It must make her day very pleasant to have such a lovely team of bird friends to keep her company.
She is probably right that it is safer in her home rather than fending for itself in the wild. If released, it would probably be taken by a hawk very quickly as it would not be as alert to the dangers presented by living life in the wild.
Please note: the laws about keeping native Australian birds in captivity varies from state to state. Please check with the relevant authorities before adopting birds. Your state National Parks and Wildlife website is a good place to start. You local pet shop should also be able to help.
Update: This article was edited and updated in July 2015. The photos below were also added.
Crested pigeon
Crested Pigeon
Crested Pigeon
Crested Pigeon
Crested Pigeon
Crested Pigeon
Crested Pigeon caught by surprise
Crested Pigeons are common birds in our garden and on our five acre block of land. They regularly come to visit the bird bath and have been breeding regularly over the years. We often see 15 to 20 or more sitting in a loose flock on the power lines bordering our property.
Yesterday, while hanging out the washing on the clothes line I observed one very surprised Crested Pigeon. He flew down from a nearby tree, under the clothes already on the line and landed not more than a metre from where I stood. For a brief second he paused, looked at me and then, a little startled, flew back to the tree again.
Crested Pigeon
I enjoy hanging out the washing. It gives me a break from the computer and gets me fresh air. It also gets me out where the birds are, and this I enjoy because over the years I have made some great observations while completing this task. The eyes are naturally looking up and I see things like eagles, kites, hawks, swallows, ibises and many other birds flying overhead. I live in hope of someday seeing some swifts in this way too.
Peaceful Doves
Peaceful Dove, Cleland Wildlife Park
One of the most beautiful birds found in Australia would have to be the Peaceful Dove. At first glance it appears to be a dull grey colour all over. On closer inspection, however, the delicate markings make this bird stand out from many others.
The Peaceful Dove is found throughout eastern, central and northern Australia and the northern parts of Western Australia. Here in Murray Bridge, South Australia, they are widespread but not particularly common anywhere. The one exception is an area several kilometres west of our home. On my walks through the nearby hills I have often heard their soft, musical doodle-doo calls echoing through the mallee scrub. It is a peaceful, soothing call, one that I love hearing.
From time to time we hear or see them in the mallee scrub at the back of our house garden. Yesterday, while having lunch, we were delighted to hear one calling just a few metres from the front door. By the time I raced outside with the camera, it had gone. Trying to get a good photo of this species in the wild has been a long, frustrating journey over the last twelve months. I haven’t succeeded – yet.
The photo above is of a captive bird. It was taken in the walk through aviary at Cleland Wildlife Park a few days ago.
Related article:
Updated November 2013.
Updated August 2015.
Crested Pigeons in the park
No Comments »8th August, 2006; Category: Pigeons and Doves
Crested Pigeons
Crested Pigeons are a common sight on the farmlands throughout rural regions of Australia. In more recent decades they have become a common sight in the parks and gardens and playing fields throughout metropolitan areas of this land. This recent photo was taken at one of my favourite birding spots, the picnic grounds at Lake Inchiquin in Clare in the mid-north of South Australia.
For more postings about pigeons click here.
The pest with a crest
No Comments »24th July, 2006; Category: Pigeons and Doves
We have a large number of Crested Pigeons in and near our garden. We love seeing them and observing their iridescent colours reflecting in the sun. We are always amused by their flimsy nests; how do the eggs stay in the nest?
Last week I visited the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. I saw a different side to this wonderful bird. Here they have bred into pest proportions. Near the restaurant and fast food outlet they hang around the tables waiting for food thrown by the customers. I even saw several actually on the tables almost taking food off the plates of the picnickers.
In most places, including the nearby Adelaide Zoo, the dominant species is the usual Feral Pigeon (Rock Dove). Here the Crested Pigeon seems to have created their own little niche. I saw no Feral Pigeons there at all. Perhaps they were all visiting the zoo!
Crested Pigeon