Bronzewing pigeon

Bronzewing pigeon

Taxobox
name = Bronzewing Pigeons
image_width = 250px



image_caption = Brush Bronzewing on nest.
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Columbiformes
familia = Columbidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision =
*"Phaps"
*"Geophaps"
*"Ocyphaps"

The bronzewing pigeons are a group of pigeons native to Australia which have distinctive iridescent wing patches that appear bronze or green-brown in dull light, but flash in many bright colours in the sun as the bird moves.

There are three species always known as "bronzewings" in the genus "Phaps", and several broadly similar birds that also have the trademark wing patch to a more or less obvious degree. Bronzewings are ground feeders but capaple of very fast flight. They tend to browse quietly until disturbed, then remain still, their earthy browns blending into the earth and leaf litter until the intruder approaches too closely, at which point the bronzewing takes off with an explosive burst of sudden wing clapping and feather noise, and disappears from sight within moments.

The dividing line between the bronzewings and the rock pigeons is arbitrary: essentially, rock pigeons are bronzewings without bronze on their wings. Members of the group include:

* The Common Bronzewing ("Phaps calcoptera") is a large, bulky pigeon with a small head, found in all parts of Australia bar some of the deep desert, Cape York Peninsula, and urban areas. Its advertising call is an extraordinary mournful "whooo" repeated at metronomic intervals for an interminable length of time. Although rather wary by nature, birds in the urban fringes become quite used to humans.
* The Brush Bronzewing ("Phaps elegans") is uncommon, probably threatened. Marginally smaller than the Common Bronzewing and rather secretive—except for its call, which is slightly faster and higher-pitched but maintained through the hottest days with equally monotonous determination. Brush Bronzewings nest low down, often on the ground, and are very vulnerable to feral cats and foxes.
* Flock Bronzewings ("Phaps histrionica") roam the grasslands of the northern half of the continent. Once found in enormous flocks, they are still to be seen in their thousands. Pizzey's description of their habits is memorable: "When locally abundant, at end of day, undulating, shearwater-like flocks fly to water, settle short distance away, and walk in. Thirsty latecomers may drop directly into water and drink while spreadeagled, before springing off."
* Crested Pigeons ("Ocyphaps lophotes") are distinctive, common, and widespread. Usually seen in small flocks in open woodlands or grasslands, it is always close to water. With the clearing of much forest and the provision of water in arid regions for cattle, Crested Pigeons have increased in number.
* The Spinifex Pigeon ("Geophaps plumifera") is an unmistakable ground-dwelling small pigeon, reddish-bronze in colour and prominently crested, with a unique upright, military stance. When dirturbed it prefers to run erratically, breaking into rapid, noisy flight only if pressed. A desert specialist, it is found in the arid and semi-arid zones of the northern half of the continent.
* The Partridge Pigeon ("Geophaps smithii") is a dull brown bird about 26 cm long found only in pairs or small flocks in the grasslands of northern Northern Territory and northern Western Australia.
* The Squatter Pigeon ("Geophaps scripta"), like the very similar Partridge Pidgeon, spends feeds, roosts, and nests on the ground, and prefers infertile sandy soils and gravel where the grass grows only thinly, allowing easy movement. Squatter Pigeons are restricted to the eastern half of Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales.

References

* Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight; "Field guide to the birds of Australia". Angus & Roberson, 1977, ISBN 0-207-19691-5


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • bronzewing pigeon — noun see bronzewing …   Useful english dictionary

  • bronzewing pigeon — noun Any of several Australian pigeon species, also called bronzewings. Syn: bronze wing, rock pigeon …   Wiktionary

  • bronzewing — noun /ˈbɹɒnzˌwɪŋ/lang=en Any of several species of bird in the genera Henicophaps and Phaps in the pigeon family, found in Australasia. Syn: bronzewing pigeon …   Wiktionary

  • bronzewing — ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun also bronze winged pigeon ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ; or bronzewing pigeon : any of numerous pigeons of the Australian region that are conspicuous for the metallic spots or areas on the wings …   Useful english dictionary

  • Bronzewing — Bronze wing , n. (Zo[ o]l.) An Australian pigeon of the genus {Phaps}, of several species; so called from its bronze plumage. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pigeon Island (Houtman Abrolhos) — Infobox Island name = Pigeon Island image caption = locator map custom = no location = Indian Ocean, off the coast of Western Australia coordinates = coord|28|27|18|S|113|43|34|E|scale:100000 type:isle|display=inline,titleGazetteer of Australia… …   Wikipedia

  • bronzewing — noun an Australian pigeon with a metallic bronze band on the wing. [Phaps chalcoptera and related species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • Common Bronzewing — Male Common Bronzewing Conservation status …   Wikipedia

  • Flock Bronzewing — Taxobox name = Flock Bronzewing status = LC | status system = IUCN3.1 regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Columbiformes familia = Columbidae genus = Phaps species = P. histrionica binomial = Phaps histrionica binomial… …   Wikipedia

  • Brush Bronzewing — Taxobox name = Brush Bronzewing image caption = On nest status = LC | status system = IUCN3.1 regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Columbiformes familia = Columbidae genus = Phaps species = P. elegans binomial = Phaps elegans …   Wikipedia

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