Bird
Crested Pigeon
Ocyphaps lophotesAlso known as Whistle-winged Pigeon, Topknot Pigeon
Crested pigeons are distinctive granivores that produce an unmistakable musical whistle upon takeoff, created by air vibrating across a uniquely narrow flight feather on each wing. Flocks spend daylight hours strutting through open turf and stubble fields, bobbing their slender black crests in unison as they search for fallen seeds. During courtship displays, males puff their bronze-ringed chests, fanning their tails upward and bowing dramatically to impress watching females.
Ground ForagerSeed EaterUrban Wildlife
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrass Seeds, Grain Seeds, Herb Shoots
Predators
- Feral Cat
- Red Fox
- Brown Goshawk
ThreatsPredation by introduced cats and foxes, vehicle strikes
HabitatsGrasslands, open woodlands, agricultural pastures, parks, and suburban gardens
Life span5–10 years
Classification
- OrderColumbiformes
- FamilyColumbidae
- GenusOcyphaps
- SpeciesOcyphaps lophotes
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Acoustic Cues: Listen for a sharp whistling flutter as they launch, which serves as a natural flock alarm.
- Urban Finding: Check open golf courses, park lawns, and farm grain spills during the cooler morning hours.
Look-alike (c) Graham Winterflood, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Graham Winterflood · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableSame Family 
Same Family no rights reserved · cc0
Same Family (c) Paul Korecky, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Species set
Urban Dwellers
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