Partridge Pigeon

1. Bright red or yellow bare skin around the eye, depending on region

2. White “straps” along the flanks and a white throat

3. Explosive, noisy take-off when flushed from the ground

Partridge Pigeons feed mainly on seeds from grasses and legumes and need daily access to water. They nest during the dry season (March to October). They make a simple ground nest lined with dry grass, and lay two glossy creamy-white eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs for about 17 to 19 days.The species has suffered serious declines due to changes in fire management, grazing by livestock, and predation by feral cats.

Partridge Pigeons live in well-watered tropical woodlands of the northwestern Northern Territory and the northern Kimberley in Western Australia. They prefer open eucalypt woodlands with grassy ground cover and plenty of leaf litter. You’re most likely to spot them at dawn or dusk, foraging in small groups along roadsides or in recently burnt areas with short grass. These pigeons spend nearly all their time on the ground and often burst into flight with a loud clatter if disturbed.