White-headed Pigeon
Columba leucomela
Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderColumbiformes (Pigeons and Doves)
- FamilyColumbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
- GenusColumba (Typical Old World Pigeons)
- SpeciesColumba leucomela (White-headed Pigeon)
About the White-headed Pigeon
The white-headed pigeon (Columba leucomela) is a pigeon native to the east coast of Australia. The pigeon family is a group of stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a worldwide distribution. The white-headed pigeon is in the genus Columba, the same as the Rock dove (C. livia) from which the domestic pigeon is derived. It has no subspecies.
The white-headed pigeon was originally classified as C. norfolciensis, but the 1953 discovery of an 18th-century painting indicated that the description was likely for a different bird on Norfolk Island, perhaps the Pacific emerald dove (Chalcophaps longirostris). It is most closely related to the metallic pigeon (C. vitiensis).
The white-headed pigeon draws its name from its distinctive white head, neck, breast, and belly. In males, the wings are slate grey, along with the tail. The upper parts are grey black, with a green or purple iridescence. The bill is pink to dark red, but with a yellow or white tip. The legs and feet are pink to red. Females appear similar to males, but their white colouration is less brilliant and more muddied. Juveniles are similar to females, but... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of White-headed Pigeon in Royal National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Royal National Park
Topknot Pigeon
Lopholaimus antarcticus
Wonga Pigeon
Leucosarcia melanoleuca
Crested Pigeon
Ocyphaps lophotes
Brown Cuckoo-Dove
Macropygia phasianella
Pearl-necked Dove
Spilopelia chinensis
Brush Bronzewing
Phaps elegans
Bar-shouldered Dove
Geopelia humeralis
Common Bronzewing
Phaps chalcoptera
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Noosa National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a White-headed Pigeon in Royal National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a White-headed Pigeon sighting in Royal National Park, based on 12 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see White-headed Pigeon in Royal National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for White-headed Pigeon in Royal National Park in our monthly data.