Australian ground pigeons
| Australian ground pigeons | ||||||||
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Petrophassa rufipennis |
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| Systematics | ||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||
| Petrophassa | ||||||||
| Gould , 1841 |
Australian ground pigeons ( Petrophassa ) are a genus of pigeon birds. The genus includes two species which occur only in Australia and which are adapted to a soil life to a very high degree.
Appearance
Australian ground pigeons reach a body size between 28 and 31 centimeters. The white-winged stone pigeon reaches a size of 30 centimeters. The body length of the red-winged stone pigeon varies between 28 and 31 centimeters. Sex dimorphism is only minor.
Both species resemble the bronze winged pigeons . The body plumage is predominantly dark olive brown. The head, neck, back and chest are gray. The individual feathers are broadly lined so that the plumage looks flaky.
distribution and habitat
Australian ground pigeons are native to the northwest and north of Australia. Both species are very well adapted to arid habitats (desert areas), the animals inhabit rocky and stony areas. The range of the two species does not overlap and both occupy comparable ecological niches.
The food is searched exclusively on the ground, it mainly consists of seeds. The nest is either built directly on the ground or on a ledge. The clutch consists of two eggs and the incubation period is 16 to 18 days. The nestlings of the white-winged stone pigeon fledge after 15 days, while the red-winged stone pigeon only flies after 21 days.
species
The following two species are counted among the Australian ground pigeons:
- White-winged stone dove ( Petrophassa albipennis )
- Red-winged stone dove ( Petrophassa rufipennis )
supporting documents
Individual evidence
literature
- David Gibbs, Eustace Barnes and John Cox: Pigeons and Doves - A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World . Pica Press, Sussex 2001, ISBN 90-74345-26-3 .
- Gerhard Rösler: The wild pigeons of the earth - free life, keeping and breeding , Verlag M. & H. Schaper, Alfeld-Hannover 1996, ISBN 3-7944-0184-0 .
