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gemfyreBefore we start, there is no fundamental difference between a dove and a pigeon. The birds in this family called pigeons are often larger while the doves are more petite, but this doesn't always stand. The Perth area is home to 5 species of dove/pigeon, 3 of them feral (and the two native ones are hard to find in the metro area).
Feral Pigeon - Columba liva
Photo by Tim Taylor of Birdforum
These birds are known as Rock Doves where they are native (to be honest, I'm not quite sure where that is). They are also sometimes called Rock Pigeons, and domestic ones may be Homing or Racing Pigeons. Around most of the world they are just the annoying Feral Pigeon that poops on everything. In the Perth area it's not hard to find Feral Pigeons, particularly in the city where there's plenty of discarded food to eat. They themselves provide a ready source of food for enterprising Peregrine Falcons. I'm not even going to bother giving you the identifying features of these because everyone knows "those damn rats with wings". Just a note, any large pigeon-like bird you see in the Perth area will be a Feral Pigeon. They come in all sorts of colours (the photo shows the grey-green wild type and a browner version - but they also come in white, and brown and white, and speckledy...) If you see a flock flying close together in unison you're probably looking at someone's Homing Pigeon flock. Wild pigeons don't fly around neatly in those great flocks. They also sometimes look like raptors in flight - I guess if you're going to try and evade a hungry falcon you best learn to fly like one.
Senegal Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis
Photo by UlfL of Birdforum
Also known as the Laughing Dove and the Laughing Turtle-dove, the Senegal Dove hails from Africa (most likely Senegal) and has remained pretty much restricted to the metro area, and a few country towns where some idiot has released a few. Admittedly, Senegal Doves don't do much damage. They were one of the first local birds I became familiar with when I was a kid (hence my insisting on calling them Senegal Doves, which is the first name I learned for them. I believe the official name is Laughing Turtle-dove). They have a bubbling, laughing call that reminds me of mornings at my Nan & Pop's place when I was little. They also -
- Are considerably smaller than Feral Pigeons.
- A a pale pinkish-brown with grey-blue on the wings.
- Have a 'necklace' of orangey-pink feathers.
The Senegal Dove has a close relative also introduced in the Perth area.
Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensis
Photo by Neil of Birdforum
The Spotted Dove is also known as the Spotted Turtle-dove. To me they are just "Spotties". Spotted Doves have been introduced into a lot more places in Australia. In Perth I find them very common in some suburbs and almost impossible to find in others. They often hang around with their close cousins the Senegal Doves, which gives you a good opportunity to compare the two. Apart from a different call (more of a "crooch-coo" than a bubbling laugh), there are a few things that tell them apart from Senegals -
- Larger bird, still smaller than a Feral Pigeon.
- Generally darker overall with brown wings. I've seen some Spotties that are almost chocolate brown.
- Black patch with white spots on the back of the neck - their namesake.
Both Streptopelia doves build "nests" that are hardly more than a rough platform of twigs. If you've found delicate looking white eggs on the ground after a windy day, most likely the are Senegal or Spotted Dove eggs.
There are only 2 species of native dove you're likely to see around Perth, and even then you'll only see them in more heavily wooded areas/outer suburbs.
Crested Pigeon - Ocyphaps lophotes
Photo by Stephen Powell of Birdforum
I was charmed by these guys from the time I first saw them up north. They hang about on power lines and fences in outer suburbs (Whiteman, Stratton, Wanneroo, Forrestdale), but I have never seen them closer in to the city. Crested Pigeons are easy to identify.
- Crest on the head!! They are one of only two doves in Australia to have a crest. The other is the Spinefex Pigeon which is only found up north among spinefex grass and is smaller and red.
- Grey colouring with irridescent patches on the wings.
- Pink feet.
I love watching these guys land. They tip their rear ends up as if they've come in too fast. They do this all the time, you could regard it as a diagnostic feature. Although they do have a call (a deep oom), they are one of the few birds you can identify by listening to the sound their wings make. When they take off their wings make a distinctive loud squeaking which is also pretty much diagnostic.
Common Bronzewing - Phaps chalcoptera
Photo by Julien of Birdforum
The Common Bronzewing is very secretive and hard to see unless you are quiet and patient. They prefer to skulk around in undergrowth and don't tend to fly too far off the ground. They are however very common in wooded areas, so be patient and you're sure to spot a few. I have gotten good looks at a couple hanging around the carpark at John Forrest National Park. They are probably the prettiest pigeon in the Perth area.
- They are very heavyset. Probably the size of a Feral Pigeon but chunkier.
- Yellow forehead patch.
- White stripe under the eye to the back of the head.
- Irredescent patches in the wings (the origin of the name "Bronzewing").
- Overall brown plumage.
If you listen you may hear them calling among the undergrowth, an infrequent "WOOM!" sound.
Feral Pigeon - Columba liva
Photo by Tim Taylor of Birdforum
These birds are known as Rock Doves where they are native (to be honest, I'm not quite sure where that is). They are also sometimes called Rock Pigeons, and domestic ones may be Homing or Racing Pigeons. Around most of the world they are just the annoying Feral Pigeon that poops on everything. In the Perth area it's not hard to find Feral Pigeons, particularly in the city where there's plenty of discarded food to eat. They themselves provide a ready source of food for enterprising Peregrine Falcons. I'm not even going to bother giving you the identifying features of these because everyone knows "those damn rats with wings". Just a note, any large pigeon-like bird you see in the Perth area will be a Feral Pigeon. They come in all sorts of colours (the photo shows the grey-green wild type and a browner version - but they also come in white, and brown and white, and speckledy...) If you see a flock flying close together in unison you're probably looking at someone's Homing Pigeon flock. Wild pigeons don't fly around neatly in those great flocks. They also sometimes look like raptors in flight - I guess if you're going to try and evade a hungry falcon you best learn to fly like one.
Senegal Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis
Photo by UlfL of Birdforum
Also known as the Laughing Dove and the Laughing Turtle-dove, the Senegal Dove hails from Africa (most likely Senegal) and has remained pretty much restricted to the metro area, and a few country towns where some idiot has released a few. Admittedly, Senegal Doves don't do much damage. They were one of the first local birds I became familiar with when I was a kid (hence my insisting on calling them Senegal Doves, which is the first name I learned for them. I believe the official name is Laughing Turtle-dove). They have a bubbling, laughing call that reminds me of mornings at my Nan & Pop's place when I was little. They also -
- Are considerably smaller than Feral Pigeons.
- A a pale pinkish-brown with grey-blue on the wings.
- Have a 'necklace' of orangey-pink feathers.
The Senegal Dove has a close relative also introduced in the Perth area.
Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensis
Photo by Neil of Birdforum
The Spotted Dove is also known as the Spotted Turtle-dove. To me they are just "Spotties". Spotted Doves have been introduced into a lot more places in Australia. In Perth I find them very common in some suburbs and almost impossible to find in others. They often hang around with their close cousins the Senegal Doves, which gives you a good opportunity to compare the two. Apart from a different call (more of a "crooch-coo" than a bubbling laugh), there are a few things that tell them apart from Senegals -
- Larger bird, still smaller than a Feral Pigeon.
- Generally darker overall with brown wings. I've seen some Spotties that are almost chocolate brown.
- Black patch with white spots on the back of the neck - their namesake.
Both Streptopelia doves build "nests" that are hardly more than a rough platform of twigs. If you've found delicate looking white eggs on the ground after a windy day, most likely the are Senegal or Spotted Dove eggs.
There are only 2 species of native dove you're likely to see around Perth, and even then you'll only see them in more heavily wooded areas/outer suburbs.
Crested Pigeon - Ocyphaps lophotes
Photo by Stephen Powell of Birdforum
I was charmed by these guys from the time I first saw them up north. They hang about on power lines and fences in outer suburbs (Whiteman, Stratton, Wanneroo, Forrestdale), but I have never seen them closer in to the city. Crested Pigeons are easy to identify.
- Crest on the head!! They are one of only two doves in Australia to have a crest. The other is the Spinefex Pigeon which is only found up north among spinefex grass and is smaller and red.
- Grey colouring with irridescent patches on the wings.
- Pink feet.
I love watching these guys land. They tip their rear ends up as if they've come in too fast. They do this all the time, you could regard it as a diagnostic feature. Although they do have a call (a deep oom), they are one of the few birds you can identify by listening to the sound their wings make. When they take off their wings make a distinctive loud squeaking which is also pretty much diagnostic.
Common Bronzewing - Phaps chalcoptera
Photo by Julien of Birdforum
The Common Bronzewing is very secretive and hard to see unless you are quiet and patient. They prefer to skulk around in undergrowth and don't tend to fly too far off the ground. They are however very common in wooded areas, so be patient and you're sure to spot a few. I have gotten good looks at a couple hanging around the carpark at John Forrest National Park. They are probably the prettiest pigeon in the Perth area.
- They are very heavyset. Probably the size of a Feral Pigeon but chunkier.
- Yellow forehead patch.
- White stripe under the eye to the back of the head.
- Irredescent patches in the wings (the origin of the name "Bronzewing").
- Overall brown plumage.
If you listen you may hear them calling among the undergrowth, an infrequent "WOOM!" sound.
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no subject
Date: 2009-07-13 02:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-13 05:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-13 08:51 pm (UTC)The spotted doves are a bit dopey, I've managed to pat them on many occasions. You'd think they'd fly away!
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Date: 2009-07-14 11:53 am (UTC)