Its wings produce a distinctive metallic whistle in flight, and the iridescent wing panels flash green and bronze in sunlight.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Jirdbinamarl, Dhamarr, A-Lapbarr, Ngambany, Jirdbinamul
At a glance
FamilyPigeons and Doves
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
Habitatopen woodland, sparse woodland, closed forest, and grassland
Best timeReported across most months in Victoria, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marcin Przymencki
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
292751approx records
7states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Males have a bright yellow and white forehead that is absent in females. When disturbed, they fly away in very direct flight with a loud clatter of wings. They only feed on the ground.
Behavior
Feeds mainly on seeds on the ground, usually alone or in pairs, and commonly visits water to drink near dawn or dusk.
Gallery
Regional timing
New South Wales
Queensland
Western Australia
Victoria
Tasmania
Northern Territory
South Australia
Australian Capital Territory