Family Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Least Concern
Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon (Petrophassa rufipennis)
Taxonomy
French: Colombine rufipenne German: Rotspiegeltaube Spanish: Paloma roquera alirrufa
Other common names:
Red-quilled Rock-pigeon
Taxonomy:
Petrophassa rufipennis
Collett
, 1898,South Alligator River, Northern Territory, Australia
.Distribution:
NC Australia: W escarpment of Arnhem Land (N Northern Territory), from Oenpelli S to Katherine, and E to headwaters of Mann R, East Alligator R and Goomadeer R; rarely farther E.
Descriptive notes
28–31 cm; 160 g. Plump ground-dwelling pigeon with long rounded tail and short broad wings, often drooping below tail when perched. Head and neck mostly blackish brown... read more
Voice
Poorly documented. A repeated single mellow cooing note lasting c. 1 second, initially rising in... read more
Habitat
Very much a specialist of open, arid, sandstone gorges and boulder fields and adjacent woodland and... read more
Food and feeding
Granivorous; the most important food plants are various species of Fabaceae, particularly members of genus Acacia; other important... read more
Breeding
Limited field data; nest remained undescribed until 1972. Data from specimens suggests breeding occurs all year round, with possible peak... read more
Movements
As far as is known, undertakes only local movements in response to changing food and water... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. No population estimates available. Species is common in appropriate habitat within its very limited range. Possible long-term threats include the... read more
Monotypic.