Wonga Pigeons
(Columbidae - Please see also Doves)
Pigeon Information ... Pigeon Heroes: Pigeons Intelligence & Amazing Facts about Pigeons .... Pigeon Species / Breeds ... Photo Gallery (Photos of Pigeons with Links to Species Pages) ... All About Pigeons: DVDs and Books for Pigeon Lovers - Now available in: 
, 
, 
, 
The Wonga Pigeon Leucosarcia melanoleuca is a pigeon that inhabits areas in eastern Australia with its range being from Central Queensland to Gippsland, eastern Victoria, Australia.
Previously they could be found as north as Cairns and as south as the Dandenongs, but due to land clearance, shootings in the 1940s for crop protection and fox predation, they are rarely seen in these areas, but their populations have improved in these areas.
Description:
The Wonga Pigeon is a large, plump pigeon that has a short neck, broad wings, and a long tail. Its length varies from 38 to 40 centimetres (15.2 to 16 inches). It has pastel blue-grey back feathers. The head fades to a creamy-white color. The underside is white with dotted dark grey spots such that a white V can be seen on its chest. They eyes are a dark red-brown color and they have pink eye-rings that encircle them. Legs are red and the genders appear identical but immature pigeons are browner with a less distinct V pattern.
They are very elusive birds and are only often heard, producing explosive wing claps when disturbed. They tend to occur on the ground foraging and are located in rainforests, wet eucalypt forests, coastal forests, picnic areas, walking tracks, carparks and gardens.
Diet / Feeding:
Their diet consists of fruit, berries, seeds from native forest trees and the odd insect.
Call / Vocalization:
The call of the Wonga Pigeon is a loud, high-pitched 'coo'. This is repeated over long periods of time for a number of seconds. When males are displaying mating, bowing occurs with a soft, trilling coo.
Breeding / Nesting:
The Wonga Pigeon is monogamous and breeds between October and January. It produces a twig platform nest with a diameter of 30 centimetres. The nest is build from about 3 to 20 metres above the ground and defending by breeding pairs. The pigeon will sometimes use abandoned nests from Topknot Pigeons or Tawny Frogmouths. Two large eggs are normally laid. The eggs are up to 4 centimetres in length.
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.org
Personality & Pet Potential:
Elizabeth Young, Mickaboo Pigeon & Dove Coordinator, provides the following info:
Pigeons need:
- Safe place (indoors or outdoors, protected from weather and predators)
- Room to move (a space that is 3’ high, 3’ wide, 6’ long is good for 1 to 2 birds)
- Fresh food (pigeon feed), water, grit & greens daily
- Easy clean-up floor &/or Pigeon Pants (www.birdwearonline.com)
- Company (either yours or another pigeon’s)
- Family planning (if you have a mated pair, you need to replace real eggs w/ fake ones)
- Avian Vet Care if they become sick or injured
To adopt a pigeon, contact Elizabeth at AdoptKings@gmail.com or (415) 420-7204
For more info:
- Come meet King Pigeons at Andy’s Pet Shop on 1280 The Alameda (at Julian) in San Jose
- Visit Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue at www.mickaboo.org
- Check out www.pigeons.biz/forums (a great web group with lots of info and resources) Read about King Pigeon rescue at www.RescueReport.org
Pigeon Rescue:
Mickaboo Pigeon & Dove Coordinator - Contact: Elizabeth Young
Relevant Web Resources: Lamington National Park
Photo, Video and/or Article contributions are welcome! Please click here for info
The Avianweb strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please send us an e-mail. THANK YOU!
