Crested pigeons are a widely spread and popular bird throughout Australia, and especially in our region. They feed exclusively on the ground and prefer open or lightly timbered country and are found throughout parks, gardens, farmland and wooded grasslands.
They are easily identified by a number of their peculiar physical and behavioural traits. They are one of only two Australian pigeons with a vertical crest on its head (the other being the Spinifex pigeon), they have distinctive iridescence on their wing coverts which shows variously purple and green, and when they land they raise their tail vertically, which I think must effect their centre of balance and momentum.
Like all pigeons they are not aggressive birds and rely on being able to fly away from danger very quickly. This is where we hear one of their most notable traits – the beating sound that happens when they take of rapidly. Presumably this has evolved to startle attackers along with the sudden burst of speed. This sound is not something they make vocally, but is because the eighth primary feather on each wing is narrower than the others, which means it vibrates and creates this sound on take-off.
Their bowing courtship dance is also notable where a male attempts to woo a female by bowing his head and fanning his tail. This is something Peaceful doves also do. I’ve seen two Crested pigeons in the last two days trying to impress females this way as the early start to spring has kicked off their breeding season. Keep your eyes out – it’s a very impressive display, but when it’s going on the females seem more bemused by it than anything else!
This article first appeared in the High Country Herald on September 3rd 2024
