Wonga Pigeon
Leucosarcia melanoleuca
Large rainforest pigeon, often found foraging on the ground on stocky pink legs. From behind it presents as a steel-gray bird with uniformly gray wings, back and tail. From the front it shows a white belly, and striking white “V” on the chest. Often heard in the distance, with a loud hooting call repeated roughly twice every second.
Identification
The wonga pigeon is a large, plump pigeon that has a short neck, broad wings, and a long tail. Its length varies from 38 to 40 centimetres (15.2 to 16 inches). It has pastel blue-grey back feathers. The head fades to a creamy-white colour. The underside is white with dotted dark grey spots such that a white V can be seen on its chest. Their eyes are a dark red-brown colour and they have pink eye-rings that encircle them. Legs are red and the sexes appear identical but immature pigeons are browner with a less distinct V pattern.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Leucosarcia melanoleuca
- Authority
- (Latham, 1801)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Leucosarcia
Range and habitat
Previously they could be found as far north as Cairns and as far south as the Dandenongs, but due to land clearance, shootings in the 1940s for crop protection, and fox predation, they are rarely seen in these areas, but their populations have improved.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Distinctive and striking tinamou, nearly endemic to Argentina, from northern Patagonia through the Monte desert region. Prefers open, rocky habitat. In the northern chaco replaced by similar Quebracho Crested-Tinamou. Often found by its three-part whistled song: a “twee-tyoo-too” similar to but less emphatic and more consistently pitched than Red-winged Tinamou.
Abyssinian White-eye
Zosterops abyssinicus
A small, sharp-billed warbler-like bird. Note the yellow throat, gray underparts, and narrow white spectacles around the eyes. Found in woodland, montane forest edge, mangroves, gardens, and scrub. Usually in hyperactive flocks, often joining mixed-species flocks. Similar to Heuglin’s White-eye, and some individuals are difficult to separate, but generally shows a narrower eye-ring. Most common call is a high-pitched rising rattle. Song is a quiet, chatty sequence of “chew” notes.
Sumba Hornbill
Rhyticeros everetti
A small black hornbill with an ivory-colored bill that has a reddish smudge at the base and a knob on top. There is a pale blue pouch of skin below the bill. Males have a rich chestnut neck that becomes a darker burnt red around the face and top of the head. Females have black necks and heads. Juveniles resemble male, with a smaller bill. Confined to Sumba, where it is the only hornbill. Inhabits lowland and foothill forest and forest edge, where it frequents the treetops singly or in groups. Calls include a fast-paced, emphatic “kokokokokokok…”.
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