Spinifex Pigeon

Alice Springs Desert Park

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The Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera) is a small crested pigeon, distinguished by it tall upright crest, conspicuous red patch across the eyes, rusty/bluff coloured plumage and black and buff crescentric bars on the upper parts of the body and wings.

Their preferred habitat is spinifex, arid and semi-arid desert regions, including rocky ranges, gorges, hilly sandy ridge. They can be seen throughout Central Australia and the arid northern parts of Australia from Western Australia through to outback Queensland.

Sometimes in attendance at the Free-flying Birds Show in the Nature Theatre, the Spinifex Pigeons can be seen searching the ground for seeds.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Geophaps
Species: G. plumifera
Binomial name: Geophaps plumifera