EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Crested Pigeon

Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Family Columbidae
Queensland, Australia

Explanation:  So aptly named is the Crested Pigeon found widely throughout Australia.  I encountered this individual there, somewhere between Ilfarcombe and Camoweal, in west-central Queensland.  

Crested Pigeons can occur as single individuals or up to flocks of many.  They are often terrestrial, feeding on ground, but perch overhead on trees, fences, and wires, as in the above photo.  

When they alight, they can produce a whistling pulse with the beat of their wings.  

Interestingly, this Crested Pigeon, that I found in the Atherton area of Queensland,
seems more gray, which is the usual plumage color reported.

Of course, a main characteristic of the Crested Pigeon is the ... well, the crest.  However, also the Spinifex Pigeon sports a similar crest, although plumage colors and markings differ.

Crested Pigeons seem secure and widespread throughout Australia, using a wide variety of habitats including grassland, shrublands, wetlands, and more.  As well, they seem relatively tolerant of human habitations and proximity.  The IUCN Red List notes it as Least Concern, with populations increasing.