The chestnut-quilled rock pigeon is a dark sooty brown pigeon with a distinctive bright chestnut patch on its wing visible in flight. It has distinctive pale lines across its face curving above and below its eye. A species of bird in the family Columbidae, it is very similar in behaviour and habitat to the white-quilled rock pigeon but it is only found on rocky escarpments in western Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Region
Northern Australia
Typical Environment
Occurs on sandstone escarpments, rocky gorges, and boulder-strewn slopes within western Arnhem Land. It favors ledges, rock platforms, and cliff bases with nearby patches of monsoon vine thicket or woodlands. Birds keep close to vertical rock faces and shaded gullies, using crevices and overhangs for cover. Waterholes and seepages within gorges are important for drinking. The species avoids open lowland plains, remaining tied to rugged rock country.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 400 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A dark, sooty-brown pigeon with a bright chestnut panel in the wing that flashes in flight, it shows pale curved lines above and below the eye. It is confined to sandstone escarpments of western Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory and is notably similar to the white-quilled rock pigeon, which lacks the chestnut patch. When flushed, it explodes from rocks with clattering wingbeats and quickly drops back into cover. Altered fire regimes and feral predators are considered potential pressures on its small range.
Temperament
wary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly, in pairs, or small family groups, keeping to cliffs and ledges. Nests are placed on protected rock ledges, crevices, or shallow caves with minimal nesting material. Breeding likely coincides with the dry-to-early-wet season when conditions are stable. Both parents attend the nest and guard the site closely.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A low, resonant series of cooing hoots that carry within rocky gorges, often given from a concealed perch. When flushed, the bird produces a distinct clattering of wings. Calls are typically brief and repeated at intervals during calm periods of the day.
Plumage
Overall dark sooty-brown with a rich chestnut patch in the wing; subtle mottling on the upperparts and darker tail. Face shows two pale, curved lines forming a supercilium and a subocular stripe. Underparts are dusky with slightly paler belly and flanks. Feathers are tight and sleek, giving a satiny appearance at close range.
Diet
Feeds mainly on fallen seeds and small fruits of grasses and shrubs, gleaned from rock platforms and gully floors. Will take green shoots and small berries when available. Occasionally ingests small invertebrates and grit to aid digestion.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the ground in shaded gullies, along the bases of cliffs, and around rock pools. Often feeds near cover, darting into crevices or vegetation when disturbed.
