Finke Gorge National Park
FaunaBlack Headed Goanna Clam Shrimp Denham Stick-insect Nasutitermes triodiae Orange Spider Wasp Pied Butcherbird Sand Goanna Scarlet Percher Shield Shrimp Spinifex Pigeon Western Bowerbird – Finke Gorge NP Yellow-faced Whip Snake
Accessible all year round, except when the Finke River is in flood, the Finke Gorge, Boggy Hole and Palm Valley is a refuge to a number of native creatures. Among the wildlife to be seen here are the Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera).
Also known as the Red Spinifex and Plumed Pigeon, the spinifex pigeon is distinguished from other crested pigeons by its rusty/bluff coloured plumage, with a tall upright crest and black and buff crescentric bars on the upper parts of the body and wings. A medium to small plump bird, they have a conspicuous red patch across the eyes.
This species of pigeon is usually in spinifex, arid and semi-arid desert habitats, rocky ranges, gorges, hilly sandy ridge regions. They are never far from water, whether it is natural or man-made water sources such as stock drinking troughs. They are found mainly in Central Australia, the arid northern parts of the Northern Territory, Western Australia and outback Queensland regions. They are often seen in habitats containing hummock forming grasses that are referred to as ‘spinifex grasses’.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Columbiformes
- Family: Columbidae
- Genus: Geophaps
- Species: Geophaps plumifera
Finke Gorge National ParkCamping & Picnic Area Boggy Hole Palm Valley Fauna Flora
FaunaBlack Headed Goanna Clam Shrimp Denham Stick-insect Nasutitermes triodiae Orange Spider Wasp Pied Butcherbird Sand Goanna Scarlet Percher Shield Shrimp Spinifex Pigeon Western Bowerbird – Finke Gorge NP Yellow-faced Whip Snake