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The wonderful Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera) is a lovely looking bird with a great character. A crested pidgeon, it is recognised by its rusty/bluff coloured plumage, tall upright crest and black and buff crescentric bars on the upper parts of the body and wings. They have a conspicuous red patch across the eyes and can often be seen nimbly scurrying around foraging for food.
Those Spinifex pigeons not use to the presence of humans will often scurry away, although if flushed they fly off with their wings making loud whirrs sounds. Others will calmly stay put, allowing you time to take a great photo.
In summer they are often seen taking shelter during the hot parts of the day.
As well as Spinifex Pigeon, they are also known as Red Spinifex and Plumed Pigeon.
See our Fauna Index for more information and images on the Spinifex Pigeon.
Images © 2006 Greg Sully
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Columbiformes
- Family: Columbidae
- Genus: Geophaps
- Species: G. plumifera
- Binomial name: Geophaps plumifera