#Spinifex pigeon

[snototter]

A spinifex pigeon (Geophaps plumifera) in Alice Springs Desert Park, Australia

by Geoff Whalan

[sitting-on-me-bum]

"Spinifex Pigeon"

Bird: Spinifex Pigeon, Alice Springs, NT

By Josh Watson

BirdLife Australia Photography Awards

[cypherdecypher]

Animal of the Day!

Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera)

(Photo by Mat Gilfedder)

Conservation Status- Least Concern

Habitat- Western Australia

Size (Weight/Length)- 100 g; 22 cm; 35 cm wingspan

Diet- Seeds; Leaves

Cool Facts- The spinifex pigeon might be one of the most majestic and hilarious birds I’ve ever seen. These ground pigeons have a small clump of feathers on their head that sticks directly up. The bigger the feathers, the more attractive the pigeon. Spinifex pigeons live in small flocks in shared territories near small sources of water in their arid homeland. Funnily enough, spinifex pigeons perform a bowing behavior with their wings spread out and their irredescent neck feathers flashing. However, this behavior is not done towards other pigeons and is instead believed to increase the pigeon’s confidence before interacting with the rest of its flock.

Rating- 12/10 (What a lovely, little lad.)

Requested by Anonymous (Happy Birthday Anon!!)

[columbidaecontest]

[ID: the Spinifex pigeon, bright orange, white, black, grey, and red, with a big feather spike on it's head. stands on some rocks. the Thick-billed ground pigeon, upperbody blue-grey, and lower body white and orange, with red eyes, walks over the forest floor]

[birdblues]

Spinifex Pigeon

[proton-wobbler]

Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera)

"Really cool Australian bird nobody’s ever heard of"

Also known as the Plumed-pigeon or Gannaway pigeon, the Spinifex pigeon is gregarious and sedentary, with the whole of populations restricting themselves to habitat with a nearby permanent supply of surface water. While the specialize in the spinifex habitat, it seems that spinifex seed is not entirely required in their diet, as they prefer other drought-resistant grasses and herbs.

"On occasion, this species engages in a spectacular bowing display, where the tail is spread erect like fan, the folded wings are raised and the pupils contract. The shining patches of the secondary feathers flash into view at the same time that the black outer tail feathers become visible. The display is not always directed at other individuals and may simply self-assertive. This species also has a head-shaking display that appears as a greeting between pairs and in threat to other individuals. The bird assumes a crouched over position with head lowered and crest flattened and thrusts forward shaking the bill and head." - Wikipedia, on Spinifex Pigeon behavior

Sources:

Image Source: eBird (Margot Oorebeek)

[kelpo-cereal]

Velociraptors based on various pigeons

[herpsandbirds]

Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera), family Columbidae, Watarrka National Park, NT, Australia

photograph by JJ Harrison

[mutant-distraction]

Spinifex pigeon

[pigeonaday]

Whats your favorite type of domestic (fancy) and wild piegion breed?

My favourite type of pigeon is a wood pigeon, I like how they look and the noises they make. My favourite fancy pigeon, well that I consider fancy but I am aware they might not be so much in their native lands is the spinifex pigeon. We don't get those where I live. I like all the pigeons though and like many things it's pretty much impossible to select a favourite..

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

your recent posts are both making me feel really seen and bringing up my dormant pent up frustrations, so I am going to complain about a random tiny little thing I see where people are talking about like. breeds of rock pigeon or something and then people are like "I can't believe they didn't mention the victoria crowned pigeon! or the pink necked green pigeon! or the-"

like. thats an entirely different species. thats not a breed of domesticated pigeon. stop making weird little infographics where you put the fantail pigeon next to the spinifex pigeon! there 352 species in columbidae! theres soo much diversity, joy, wonder, etc contained within the pigeons and doves! stop pretending that they are all breeds of the same species! these things are cooler when you give them the space to be themselves!

this is all weird and tiny and nitpicky and doesn't matter very much probably and a lot of people don't do this, but when it does happen it makes my autistic pigeon special interest ass irrationally angry. care about these animals for all of the amazing things that are actually true about them instead of lying about them! I promise you kererū is really cool on it's own you don't need to pretend its a rock dove for it to matter.

aaand the other side to this I feel like is it results in people dismissing the everyday blue rock dove. its a beautiful wonderful animal. it's our best friend. please appreciate these birds because of what they are instead of what they are not? I am not explaining this well, but like. it feels vaguely insulting when you are trying to talk about one species and people tell you that you should be talking about this other species instead. there is a time and a place.

one example of many ^^^^

this is really long sorry if it's annoying. also sorry if there's weird mistakes in here I am Tired.

(and of course as a pigeon man I feel especially upset about the lumping of all birds together that people do, especially in pet spaces. stop making "pros and cons of pet birds" lists and then only talking about parrots please)

ALL OF THIS

I originally wanted to rear pigeons, and I couldn't, because the great city of Chicago (where I'm from) DOESN'T ALLOW PET PIGEONS

WHICH IS RIDICULOUS

THEY ARE DOMESTICATED

I have nothing else to add so I'll let your post speak of itself, A+ rant

[kikikakapo]

whats your favourite type of pigeon? mines probably spinifex pigeons

oh those are cute! My favourite type of pigeons are probably rock pigeons, mainly because I have a pet one and he’s very sweet and absolutely loves me but wood pigeons (kereru) are also pretty cool, big green guys lol I see them regularly around, eating berries and flying around after each other

[natureinfusion]

Dressed in all its class > The Spinifex Pigeon. By Rosie Rufus.

[worldsandemanations]

Spinifex Pigeon photograph by Darren Stephens

[columbidaecontest]

[ID: the Spinifex pigeon, bright orange, white, black, grey, and red, with a big feather spike on it's head. stands on some rocks. the Squatter pigeon, various shades of brown, grey, white and black. walks on sand]

the last poll of the day, and WOAH! look at those birds!

with fancy hair like that, who wouldn't want to vote for the Spinifex pigeon? not so fast because the Squatter pigeon is stunning as well!

[birdblues]

Spinifex Pigeon