What Do Crested Pigeons Eat?

The crested pigeon is a stocky gray and black pigeon with a thin black crest and a gray-brown plumage sporting a pink underpart. In recent years, many people have begun seeking this Australian bird as an exotic pet. Before purchasing this delicate animal as a pet, it is best to learn its natural diet, habitat and behavior. The crested pigeon is a social, noisy bird that requires a lot of attention and specific food for dietary and health needs.

  1. Crested Pigeon

    • The crested pigeon is found throughout Australia, except for in the northern tropical regions. It is not an endangered bird, because it has no major threat, and can eat a variety of seeds and vegetation. The crested pigeon is the only member of the Ocyphaps genus, and it can grow up to 14-inches long. The crested pigeon is the larger of only two Australian pigeon species that possess an erect crest (the smaller of the two species is the spinifex pigeon).

    Diet

    • The crested pigeon's diet consists of small insects, green vegetation and seeds. The seeds mainly come from herbaceous plants, grass, trees and cereal crops. In its natural habitat, the crested pigeon feeds in flocks and congregates at waterholes for drinking. The crested pigeon can also suck water instead of throwing its head back to swallow.

    Natural Habitat

    • Crested pigeons are often seen in pairs, and they fly in flocks of up to a thousand or more. Crested pigeons forage for grains on a daily basis, so their natural habitat is primarily grain farming areas, grasslands and brush. Their preferred habitat is an arid, open woodland within flying distance to water. Due to this, they can often be found at watercourses, homestead gardens and golf courses. The crested pigeon's nest is usually a flat platform composed of twigs nestled in a bush or tree; however, the birds generally spend most of their time on the ground. The nest is primarily for shelter purposes.

    Behavior

    • Crested pigeons are generally sedentary; although, they are very social and mostly seen in packs. They can also be extremely gregarious when in contact with humans. Their most distinctive behavior is the whistling and beating sound that is made with their wings during take off. They make this alarming noise to scare off predators and alarm fellow crested pigeons of nearby danger. The crested pigeon also makes a "whoop" sound for its call. The call is usually voiced repeatedly as a song for alarm purposes.