Thanks Peter. I'm a West Aussie, recently moved to Port Adelaide and the locals here lump these birds all together as Bronzewings. There are thousands of them here.
You'll now be able to educate the locals, rbatham!
Crested pigeons breed mostly in late winter & spring but can breed other times, at least where I live. They were originally a bird of the interior where they breed mainly after rain.
Spotted turtle doves, a feral species which I actively discourage at my place so that there'll be ecological space for native pigeons, doves & bronzewings, breed mostly in spring, I think.
Bronzewings, both common & brush, breed any time of year, often after rain, but mostly in spring & early summer.
If you can get hold of a good field guide (I mostly use Michael Morcome's Field Guide to Australian Birds but there are a number of others) you'll see pictures of these species which will enable you to distinguish between them more easily.
Hey Woko, may I ask how you "actively discourage" the Spotted turtle doves? Any advice for Bulbuls? (they are the only feral bird sp. we have...so far)
I love seeing the pigeons and doves. They are among the few remaining species left in my backyard. I have crested pigeons that nest in my trees, which is lovely to see.
Jackie, I've provided habitat for brown goshawks, crested pigeons & other native species of similar ilk in order to maintain strong native competition for the spotted turtle doves. I also keep my eyes open for any spotted turtle dove nests & destroy those. To some people this sounds harsh but I try to focus on conservation of Australian birds rather than encouragement of feral species. So far my strategy is working really well. We seldom see spotted turtle doves at our place. The word must be out.
I'm very glad I haven't got any spotted doves, nor do I have any Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. I have a few Bronzewings though. But I live in a Bush area, and I hope it stays that way. The problem with some natives like the S-c Cockies and the feral doves is the same, people feed them. When I drive 5Km down the road to Gembrook or Cockatoo, people even chuck seeds on the nature strip. Hundreds of Cockatoos feast on them. A bit further down in a park, people feed doves, ducks and anything that lives there.
clearly there is some mating occuring in pic 1
I suggest however that pic 1 is a pair of Spotted Dove and pic 2 is a Crested Pigeon (L) and a Spotted Dove (R)
the Bronzewing is a bigger, heavier bird
Peter
Thanks Peter. I'm a West Aussie, recently moved to Port Adelaide and the locals here lump these birds all together as Bronzewings. There are thousands of them here.
You'll now be able to educate the locals, rbatham!
Crested pigeons breed mostly in late winter & spring but can breed other times, at least where I live. They were originally a bird of the interior where they breed mainly after rain.
Spotted turtle doves, a feral species which I actively discourage at my place so that there'll be ecological space for native pigeons, doves & bronzewings, breed mostly in spring, I think.
Bronzewings, both common & brush, breed any time of year, often after rain, but mostly in spring & early summer.
If you can get hold of a good field guide (I mostly use Michael Morcome's Field Guide to Australian Birds but there are a number of others) you'll see pictures of these species which will enable you to distinguish between them more easily.
Hey Woko, may I ask how you "actively discourage" the Spotted turtle doves? Any advice for Bulbuls? (they are the only feral bird sp. we have...so far)
Cheers, Jackie
I love seeing the pigeons and doves. They are among the few remaining species left in my backyard. I have crested pigeons that nest in my trees, which is lovely to see.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
Jackie, I've provided habitat for brown goshawks, crested pigeons & other native species of similar ilk in order to maintain strong native competition for the spotted turtle doves. I also keep my eyes open for any spotted turtle dove nests & destroy those. To some people this sounds harsh but I try to focus on conservation of Australian birds rather than encouragement of feral species. So far my strategy is working really well. We seldom see spotted turtle doves at our place. The word must be out.
Very common birds here and a pleasure to watch
I'm very glad I haven't got any spotted doves, nor do I have any Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. I have a few Bronzewings though. But I live in a Bush area, and I hope it stays that way. The problem with some natives like the S-c Cockies and the feral doves is the same, people feed them. When I drive 5Km down the road to Gembrook or Cockatoo, people even chuck seeds on the nature strip. Hundreds of Cockatoos feast on them. A bit further down in a park, people feed doves, ducks and anything that lives there.
Hard to convince those people otherwise.
M-L
In my ignorance I thought these spotted doves were native birds. They look nice though