Squatter Pigeon (Geophaps scripta) [XC196946]
by Phil Gregory from Granite Gorge, Mareeba, Queensland, Australia (call)
Squatter Pigeon (Geophaps scripta) [XC434558]
by id from Mount Moffatt, Maranoa Regional, Queensland, Australia (call, song)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Usually September - January, but may vary according to seasonal conditions.
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Nest
A shallow depression or scrape in the ground, lined with dry grass and a few dry leaves.
Eggs (Guide)
2; smooth, lustrous pale cream; oval; about 30 x 23 mm. Incubation: about 17 days; by both sexes.
Young
Semi-altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 21 - 24 days.
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Partridge Pigeon (Geophaps smithii).
Subspecies, scripta, has bare blue skin around the eye and subspecies , peninsulae, has bare red skin around the eye.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
scripta (Temminck, 1821) - Central and southern Queensland (south of Burdekin R) and formerly northern New South Wales (now vagrant).
peninsulae White, HL, 1922 - North-eastern Queensland, from Cape York Peninsula south to Burdekin R, excepting coastal lowlands.
Similar Species
Partridge Pigeon (Geophaps smithii) which is simlar in body markings but has a different head pattern, especially a dark brown cheek patch outlined in white.
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet