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Birds of the Nelly Bay Habitat Reserve


Pied Imperial Pigeons

The Pied Imperial Pigeons, Ducula biolor, are large white pigeons with black wing tips and tail that grow to 40 – 46cm. The gregarious fruit-eating birds spend winter in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea and in September they migrate south to tropical coastal Australia and offshore islands, such as Magnetic Island to breed over the summer months. In April the birds depart again for Papua New Guinea. The birds are easily seen tracing their call, a fairly loud deep ‘roo-ca-hoo’ or ‘up-ooo’ sound which is heard in the early morning or late afternoon.

Pied Imperial Pigeon Pied Imperial Pigeon
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Search the Natural Assets Database
Common Name   Scientific Name   Family
Pied Imperial-pigeon Ducula bicolor Pigeons
locations seen (30)  ..  observations (60)  ..  habitats seen (5)  ..


Fruit Doves

Other doves and pigeons that have been seen in the Habitat Reserve include the Rose-crowned fruit dove, Ptilinopus regina, and the Superb Fruit-Dove, P. superbus.

Rose-Crowned Fruit Dove Rose-Crowned Fruit Dove
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Search the Natural Assets Database
Common Name   Scientific Name   Family
Rose-crowned Fruit-dove Ptilinopus regina Pigeons
locations seen (12)  ..  observations (15)  ..  habitats seen (5)  ..


Stone Curlews

The Bush Stone Curlew, Burhinus grallarius is a bird that is commonly seen within the Nelly bay Habitat Reserve. The Bush Stone Curlew grows to 55cm. Its dull brown and white patterns makes it well camouflaged in the open woodland where it rests during the day and is active at night looking for insects to feed on. Its mournful wailing and whistling ‘wee-loo’ call can be distinctively heard at night. The Bush Stone Curlew tactic is to freeze to a stand still to escape attention.

Stone Curlews Stone Curlews
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Stone Curlews Stone Curlew
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Search the Natural Assets Database
Common Name   Scientific Name   Family
Bush Thick-knee ;
Bush Stone-curlew
Burhinus grallarius Stone-curlews
locations seen (12)  ..  habitats seen (3)  ..


Orange – footed Scrubfowl

The Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Megapodius reinwardt, is the smallest of the megapodes in Australia, however builds the largest incubation mound, up to three metres high and seven metres wide, with sometimes several pairs utilising the same mound. The elusive Orange-footed scrubfowl are rare in Townsville although common Magnetic Island. The Scrubfowl is a chicken sized, grey-brown bird that has a prominent crest on its head with orange legs, hence the name. The birds may be seen scratching leaf litter and will run quickly when disturbed, often flying to perch in the trees. It has a loud raucous double crow and clucking noise that may be heard at night. The scrubfowl will feast on an array of food including berries, seeds, insects, grubs and roots.

Orange – footed Scrubfowl Orange - Footed Scrubfowl
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Search the Natural Assets Database
Common Name   Scientific Name   Family
Orange-footed Scrubfowl ;
Jungle Fowl ;
Scrub Hen
Megapodius reinwardt Mound-builders
locations seen (13)  ..  observations (37)  ..

 
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