Lyla Lindsey
Australia is home to 29 species of the pigeon family, Columbidae, four of which are introduced. These stout-bodied birds with short necks and slender bills are commonly found in both rural and urban areas. The diet of these pigeons varies depending on the species, but generally includes seeds, fruit, berries, grains, leaves, and even insects. Some species, like the White-headed Pigeon, have a preference for the introduced Camphor Laurel tree species. The Crested Pigeon, on the other hand, is commonly found in lightly wooded grasslands and feeds on native seeds, as well as those from introduced crops and weeds. The Bar-shouldered Dove, Wonga Pigeon, and Topknot Pigeon are other examples of native Australian pigeons, each with their own unique dietary preferences and habitats.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet | Seeds, fruit, berries, insects, leaves, grains, food scraps |
| White-headed Pigeon diet | Rainforest fruit, seeds, introduced Camphor Laurel |
| Brown Cuckoo-Dove diet | Fruit, berries, seeds |
| Emerald Dove diet | Seeds, fruit |
| Common Bronzewings diet | Plants, seeds |
| Crested Pigeon diet | Native seeds, introduced crops and weeds, leaves, insects |
| Bar-shouldered Doves diet | Seeds of grasses, herbs, fruit |
| Wonga Pigeon diet | Seeds, fallen fruit, insects |
| Topknot Pigeon diet | Ripening fruit |
| Pied Imperial Pigeon diet | Fruit |
| Superb Fruit-Dove diet | Fruit, seeds |
| Wompoo Fruit-Dove diet | Rainforest fruit, seeds |
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What You'll Learn
Crested pigeons eat seeds, leaves, insects and crops
The Crested Pigeon is a native Australian bird species commonly found throughout mainland Australia, in both rural and urban areas. They are usually found in lightly wooded grasslands and near water, as they need to drink every day.
Crested pigeons are mostly seed eaters, consuming a variety of native seeds, as well as those from introduced crops and weeds. They also include some leaves and insects in their diet. These pigeons feed in groups of varying sizes, and they also congregate to drink at waterholes.
The Crested Pigeon is a stocky bird, with a thin, black crest and grey-brown plumage. The wings are barred with black and adorned with glossy green and purple patches. The head is grey, with a pinkish-red eye ring. The average length of this pigeon species is around 30 to 35 cm, and they weigh about 207 grams.
Crested pigeons are highly gregarious and social birds, often seen in flocks. They are known for their distinctive whistling flight, created by air passing over a modified primary feather when they take off, which is thought to be an alarm call for other pigeons.
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White-headed pigeons like rainforest fruit and Camphor Laurels
The White-headed Pigeon (Columba leucomela) is a native Australian bird species, commonly found in tropical and subtropical rainforests, scrublands, watercourses, and street trees. It is characterised by its white head, neck, and breast, with dark grey to black wings and tail, and pink-red legs and feet. The male of the species has a metallic green or purple sheen, while the female is usually greyer with a darker cap.
White-headed Pigeons have a preference for rainforest fruit and seeds, but they have a particular liking for the invasive Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora), an introduced tree species. They will consume various parts of the tree, including buds, flowers, leaves, and ripe and unripe fruits, and have been known to travel several kilometres to feed on them. The introduction of the Camphor Laurel in cleared areas initially benefited the White-headed Pigeon, allowing it to expand its range. However, recent bush regeneration efforts and the removal of Camphor Laurels have led to a decrease in their populations in some regions.
The diet of the White-headed Pigeon is not limited solely to Camphor Laurels. They are also known to feed on fallen grains in cornfields and will occasionally feed on the ground. They typically feed in trees alone or in small groups, but larger flocks of up to 100 individuals may gather when feeding on Camphor Laurels.
White-headed Pigeons are found east of Australia's Great Dividing Range, from far north Queensland to southern New South Wales, with increasing numbers in eastern Victoria. They are often seen in suburban gardens and agricultural areas, and their breeding season usually occurs from August to December, starting earlier in the north.
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Wonga pigeons eat seeds, fruit and insects
Australia is home to 29 species of the pigeon family, Columbidae, four of which are introduced. The Wonga Pigeon, a native Australian bird species, is one of the larger pigeons, with distinctive black and white plumage and a small head. It is found in thick forests in the southeast of Australia, preferring areas with lots of plants and tall trees where it can find food on the ground.
Wonga pigeons eat seeds, fruit, and insects. They are ground foragers, feeding on seeds from native and introduced plants, as well as fallen fruit, and the occasional insect. They use their strong beaks to crack open seeds and nuts, and sometimes pluck fruit directly from trees. They are important seed dispersers, helping to spread plant species in their habitats.
Wonga pigeons are often found in large flocks where there is plenty of food. They tend to feed in the early morning and late afternoon, and they make clearly visible 'tracks' by following the same path each time they visit a feeding site. They are generally shy and secretive, but in areas where they are used to humans, they will take off with explosive wing-claps if disturbed.
The diet of the Wonga pigeon is typical of many pigeons, which are stout-bodied birds with short necks and slender bills suited to eating seeds and fruit.
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Feral pigeons scavenge to supplement their diet of seeds
Australia is home to 29 species of the Columbidae family, of which four are introduced. The Feral Pigeon, or Rock Dove, is one such introduced species, having originally been brought over from Europe.
Feral pigeons are typically found in urban areas, where they inhabit man-made structures such as buildings, which serve as a substitute for their original habitat of cliffs and rock formations. They are unafraid of humans and tend to congregate in large, dense flocks when feeding on discarded food. In cities, they often resort to scavenging through human garbage, as unprocessed grain can be hard to come by. Feral pigeons will also eat from waste bins and feed on remnants of fast food left on the street.
Feral pigeons are opportunistic eaters and will scavenge to supplement their diet of seeds. They will eat a variety of foods, including bread crumbs, legumes, seeds, raw uncooked oats, peanuts, peas, and uncooked rice. They also eat insects and spiders. In semi-rural Kansas, a study found that their diet included 92% maize, 3.2% oats, 3.7% cherry, as well as small amounts of knotweed, elm, poison ivy, and barley.
Pigeon enthusiasts recommend that if you want to feed feral pigeons, it is best to feed them only a little at a time, in different locations, at different times, and no more than once every three days. This will ensure that the pigeons do not become dependent on humans for food and prevent them from raising too many young.
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Bar-shouldered doves eat grass, herb and fruit seeds
Bar-shouldered doves, also known as Kookawooks, are common street birds in Darwin and Cairns, Australia, and are recognised by their distinctive calls. They are medium-sized, long-tailed doves with blue-grey heads, necks and upper breasts, and reddish eyes. These doves live across the woodlands of eastern and northern Australia, as well as in southern Papua New Guinea. They are often found in humid and well-wooded areas, as well as suburban and mangrove environments.
Like other doves and pigeons, Bar-shouldered doves play an important role in seed dispersal. This is a vital function for the maintenance of diversity in tropical forests. The seeds that they do not eat may also be spread to other areas, helping to propagate various plant species.
Bar-shouldered doves are not the only Australian pigeons with a diet of seeds and fruit. The Crested Pigeon, for example, is a native Australian bird that is commonly found in woodlands, farms and cities. It feeds on the ground, eating seeds from native plants as well as introduced crops and weeds. The White-headed Pigeon, found on the forest fringes east of Australia's Great Dividing Range, also feeds on rainforest fruit and seeds.
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Frequently asked questions
Native Australian pigeons are mostly seed eaters. They also eat fruit, berries, leaves, grains, and food scraps. Some pigeons, like the Crested Pigeon, also eat insects.
The Crested Pigeon is a stocky pigeon with a conspicuous thin black crest. It is grey-brown with glossy green and purple patches on its wings and a pinkish-red ring around its eyes.
The Crested Pigeon has a distinctive whistling flight, produced by air passing over a modified primary feather on the wing. It also swings its tail high in the air upon landing.
The Crested Pigeon typically ranges from 30 to 35 cm in length, with an average size of 33 cm and an average weight of 207 grams.
The Crested Pigeon is found throughout most of mainland Australia, in lightly wooded grasslands and rural and urban areas. They are often found near water as they need to drink every day.
