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 LC    Topknot Pigeon* Id (Atlas): 027
    Lopholaimus antarcticus Endemic

Description
Image of Topknot Pigeon
 

Other Names (World)
Topknot Pigeon, Topknot, Flock Pigeon, Quook Quook

Family
Columbidae (Pigeons, Doves)

Size
42 - 45 cm

First Described
(Shaw, 1794)

Derivation
Loph'-o-läïm-us - Gk, lophos, crest; Gk, laimos, throat: an-tarc'-tic-us - L., southern

Abundance
MC

Endemic. Common in Queensland, northern New South Wales, rare further south. Nomadic.

Habitat
Tropical, sub-tropical and temperate evergreen rainforests and closed wet sclerophyll forests, including remnant patches, secondary regrowth and subclimax rainforest.

Range (Guide)
Australia (B).

Image of Range of Topknot Pigeon
Eastern Australia, from south-eastern Cape York (Cooktown area) to southernmost New South Wales in coastal lowlands and adjacent highlands and plateaux.
 
Eastern Australia from Cape York to north-eastern Victoria. Accidental to Tasmania.
 
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 70,000 (2010).

Status LC
Vulnerable.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Usually in pairs or small to large flocks.

Food
Native and introduced fruits and berries.

Voice
Often silent. A low, resonant, abrupt grunt, 'whug, whug, whug'. In flocks, feeding or fighting utters short, sharp screeches.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (2)...)

 
Topknot Pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus) [XC434105]
     by id from Eungella, Mackay Regional, Queensland, Australia (call)

 
Topknot Pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus) [XC434104]
     by Marc Anderson from Eungella, Mackay Regional, Queensland, Australia (call)

Breeding Season
October - December.

J F M A M J J A S O N D
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


Nest
A platform of fairly stout twigs, usually in the thin branches of a tree up to about 30 meters above the ground.

Eggs
1; glossy, white; oval; about 43 x 29 mm. Incubation: about 23 days; by both sexes.

Young
Fledge in 22 - 26 days.

Subspecies
Affinities uncertain. Perhaps most closely related to Hemiphaga, as both of these genera have only 12 tail feathers, while cere is feathered dorsally.

No subspecies.


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