This post describes two Crested Pigeons that I saw in the Flinders Ranges last month. We have Crested Pigeons on Australia’s east coast too, but I haven’t seen any here with colours as vibrant as the two further west.

This Crested Pigeon stands out on the red soil at Bendleby Ranges:

This one glows against the bright blue of the early morning sky at Wilpena Pound:

Common name: Crested Pigeon
Scientific name: Ocyphaps lophotes
Approximate length: 31-35 cm
Date spotted: 19-20 July 2026 (winter)
Location: Bendleby Ranges (32°21’13.7″S 138°47’34.8″E) and Wilpena Pound (31°31’36.5″S 138°36’11.6″E), Flinders Ranges, South Australia