September–October 2015 43Brown cuckoo-dove
Macropygia amboinensis
Length: 42cm
This pigeon’s dignified bearing matches
its sombre colouring. Its length rivals
that of our largest pigeons, but it has a
more slender form. Named for its
fancied resemblance to some cuckoos, it
ranges from Cape York Peninsula to
southern NSW, favouring wet coastal
and hinterland forests. Unlike many
other fruit pigeons, it can digest seeds
and therefore obtain nutrients
from poorer-quality fruits.
NATUR AL HISTORY
Topknot pigeon
Lopholaimus antarcticus
Length: 43cm
Sombre as its grey and black plumage
may be, the large topknot pigeon sports
flamboyant chestnut-and-grey headgear
like a slightly seedy Elvis impersonator.
Ruthlessly hunted until recently and
affected by habitat loss, its slow recovery
has been aided by the introduced
camphor laurel, the fruits of which now
form a significant part of its diet. It
favours coastal forest between north-
eastern QLD and the VIC–NSW border.