Bar-shouldered Dove
Geopelia humeralis

AKA: Copper-necked Dove; Bronze-necked Dove; Mangrove Dove; Pandanus Pigeon; River Pigeon, Scrub Dove

©Crimson Lam

Distribution: Commonly found inhabiting the forests, plains, mangroves in the coastal areas of western, northern & eastern Australia and in the southern coastal regions of New Guinea.

Three races recognized: G. h. humeralis (Temminck 1821); G. h. gregalis (Bangs & Peters 1926); G. h. headlandi (Mathews 1913).

Description: Length 29 cm. Medium sized dove; the crown is bluish-grey, extending to the face, throat & breast. The hindneck & upper mantle a copper brown with black edges. The belly & lower chest is white with pinkish tinges. The back, upper tail coverts & wing shields are dark brown with  distinct black tips. Primaries chestnut with blackish outer webs and tips. Under wing is chestnut. Central tail feathers grey brown with white tips. Eyes light brown, yellow to greenish. The eye cere is blue grey. The eye cere of the male becomes enlarged and deepens to a dark purplish red when he is in a heightened sexual excitement. Juvenile: a dull version of the adult.

 
©Gérald Morisseau 2004

Nesting: 2 white eggs, 14-16 days incubation; young birds fledge in another 16-21 days.

Voice:

©Fotohead
Note: Males can become aggressive if the hen refuses his advances for breeding. When in breeding "excitement" the male's eye cere enlarges. Note the bluish coloration of the enlarged cere, can also be a purplish blue color. 

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