The partridge pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to Australia.
Region
Northern Australia
Typical Environment
Occurs in tropical open eucalypt savanna with a dense grassy understorey, often on sandy or lateritic soils. It favors areas with a mosaic of recently burnt and unburnt patches, which provide foraging and cover. Birds keep close to permanent or seasonal water and are commonly seen along tracks, edges, and shaded ground. Nesting and roosting are on the ground in leaf litter or among grasses, relying on camouflage. The species has declined in many formerly occupied areas due to habitat alteration and predation.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The partridge pigeon is a ground-dwelling pigeon of Australia’s tropical savannas, now persisting mainly in two disjunct populations in the Kimberley and the Top End. Two subspecies are recognized and can be told apart by the color of the bare orbital skin: yellow in the west and red in the east. It is sensitive to altered fire regimes and predation by feral cats, which have contributed to range contractions. The species typically remains close to water and is most active in cooler parts of the day.
Temperament
wary and cryptic
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low fast dashes with whirring take-off
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups. Largely terrestrial, foraging and nesting on the ground; pairs maintain small territories in the breeding season. A simple ground scrape is used for nesting, typically with a single egg, and both parents attend the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Soft, low cooing phrases delivered from the ground or low cover, often at dawn and dusk. Alarmed birds produce a sudden wing-clatter on flushing and give brief, harsh contact notes while regrouping.
