A pair of Bar-shouldered Doves cooed to each other as I walked down a path on Manly North Head. It was a beautiful nearly-spring day. North Head is a headland that forms the northern natural gate to Sydney Harbour.

Only one of the doves was visible, but I could hear the other one replying from a distance.

These are large doves, and quite pretty with their soft cinnamons and grey colouring. This is only the second time that I’ve seen one. The other sighting was way back in 2018. My bird book says that they’re common in the north of Australia, but sedentary, uncommon, or vagrant in the south.

Common name: Bar-shouldered Dove
Scientific name: Geopelia humeralis
Approximate length: 30 cm
Date spotted: 9 August 2024 (late winter)
Location: Manly North Head, New South Wales, Australia: 33°48’38.9″S 151°18’03.1″E