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Rose-crowned Fruit-dove
Ptilinopus regina
Conservation Status
Vulnerable species in New South Wales (Threatened Species Conservation Act).
What does it look like?
It is a small, colourful rainforest pigeon growing to 24 cm in length. Males have a rose crown edged with yellow, and the head and breast are blue-grey, spotted white. The upper parts are grey-green, the tail-tip yellow and the abdomen are orange. Females are mostly grey-green. (from DEC-NSW Threatened Species Profile).
Where does it live?
They mainly utilise sub-tropical and dry rainforest, and occasionally moist eucalypt, swamp forest or mangroves if food is abundant. The distribution includes the east coast and ranges of New South Wales and Queensland, from Newcastle to Cape York. Vagrants have been recorded as far south as Victoria. There is one record for Pittwater from Ingleside/Warriewood in 1982.
What does it eat and what is its life cycle?
The species is a fruit specialist, foraging from vines, shrubs, trees and palms. They are a nomadic/migratory species to some degree, following fruit availability. The dove will also forage from introduced flora species.
They nest on a small twig platform in a bush or low tree, with a single egg.
Updated: 27 Jun 2011
Related Links
- Rose-crowned Fruit-dove - DEC-NSW Threatened Species Profile