The brush bronzewing is a species of bird in the pigeon family, Columbidae. It is endemic to Australia, with two biogeographically distinct subspecies.
Region
Southern Australia
Typical Environment
Endemic to Australia, occurring patchily through dense coastal heath, mallee, and dry to wet eucalypt forests from southwestern Western Australia across southern states to Tasmania. It prefers habitats with thick understory cover and leaf-littered floors for foraging. Birds often remain close to cover and may move to edges, tracks, and clearings to pick seeds. They frequently visit waterholes, especially in drier regions, and can make local movements in response to food availability and fire regimes.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The brush bronzewing is a shy, ground-dwelling pigeon that favors dense understory where it forages quietly for fallen seeds and berries. Males show a conspicuous iridescent bronze-green wing patch that flashes in flight. It is most often detected by its deep, booming hoots, given from concealed perches. Predation by introduced foxes and cats and loss of dense understory can affect local populations, but it remains overall not at risk.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, direct flights
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, occasionally in small loose groups at water sources. Monogamous pairs nest in dense shrubs or low vegetation, building a simple twig platform. They rely on cover and will freeze or flush explosively when approached.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A low, resonant series of booming hoots, often given as a slow, spaced “oom… oom… oom” from a concealed perch. The call carries surprisingly far in still conditions and is most frequent at dawn and dusk.
Plumage
Cryptic, finely mottled brown and grey upperparts with scalloped patterning; warm rufous tones on the forehead and shoulders in males; smooth grey head and pinkish to buff underparts. Prominent iridescent bronze-green to purple panels on the folded wings. Underparts and flanks subtly barred; tail with darker terminal band.
Diet
Feeds mainly on fallen seeds of native shrubs, grasses, and eucalypts, along with berries and small fruits. Will also take tender shoots, buds, and the occasional flower part. Foraging is primarily on the ground, picking items methodically from leaf litter. It may shift locally to areas with recent seed flushes after fire or flowering events.
Preferred Environment
Dense understory and thickets where it can feed under cover, including heathlands, mallee scrub, and forest edges. Often forages along tracks, clearings, and beneath shrubs, retreating quickly to cover when disturbed.
