Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Topknot Pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus)
Topknot Pigeon

Topknot Pigeon

Lopholaimus antarcticus

The Topknot Pigeon, Lopholaimus antarcticus, is a pigeon species endemic to eastern Australia. It is a large bird, predominantly slate-grey, measuring 40–46 centimeters in length. The plumage is darker on the back, coverts, and upper secondaries, with black quills. The primaries are black, while the rest of the body is a lighter slate-grey. A distinctive feature is the crest, grey at the base and russet brown on the crown, flanked by black.

Identification Tips

Males and females are similar in appearance, but males boast a larger crest and less streaking on the chest. Juveniles resemble females but have mottled chests and smaller crests. The iris of adults is yellow-golden with a bright red outer band, while fledglings have brown irises. The tarsals and feet are purplish red, turning reddish brown in juveniles.

Habitat

This species inhabits the rainforests of eastern Australia, where it can be seen perched high in the canopy or in flight, displaying its striking tail pattern.

Distribution

The Topknot Pigeon ranges from the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland to the central south coast of New South Wales, and occasionally ventures into eastern Victoria. Historical records indicate rare sightings in Tasmania.

Behaviour

These pigeons are known for their nomadic tendencies, traveling great distances in search of fruiting trees. They may suddenly appear in areas where they have not been seen for years.

Song & Calls

The Topknot Pigeon has three distinct calls: a soft 'coo-oo, eee', a louder 'coo-oo, ooo', and a quiet, croaky 'cor-or' reminiscent of a domestic pigeon. In flocking and mass feeding situations, a short raucous call can be heard.

Breeding

Breeding season is tied to the ripening of fruit trees and palms within their habitat, prompting mass flocking. Nests are built of stout sticks, and a single ovate egg is laid. Both sexes share incubation duties, which last 17–24 days.

Diet and Feeding

The diet is exclusively frugivorous, consisting of various species of Ficus and other rainforest fruits. The Topknot Pigeon does not use grit to break down seeds, thus playing a crucial role in seed dispersal.

Conservation status

Once abundant, the Topknot Pigeon's numbers declined due to habitat loss and hunting. Now protected in Australia, their numbers have seen a resurgence, partly due to the availability of camphor laurel fruit. The IUCN currently lists the species as Least Concern.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Topknot Pigeons on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Pigeons, Doves

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
Trevarthen1
Birda fan
I really enjoy using Birda, all sightings are recorded and photos can be added. There are monthly challenges which help to get you out to record your sightings. The Birda community are great and are happy to help with unidentified bird sightings. Suitable for all ages and experience!
Safira V
Birding and wellbeing app
Birda is an excellent platform to share your love of Birding and is a great tool of encouragement for a Birding Beginner like me. Birda has a very kind and supportive community of Birding enthusiasts. For me BIRDA is not only a BIRDING but also a WELLBEING App.
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
Abi.M
Awesome App
I really enjoy using this app! It is such a friendly community of bird-lovers who are happy to help if I need ID advice. It’s been great motivation to get outdoors and go birding more! 10/10 😍😍
Jane N
A great app
Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
D3Nature
Great app for learning Birds
I’ve been using the app for a couple of months and love it....Someone said it’s like a real life Pokémon Go for birds. They’re not far off! It’s something that the family can do that gets you out and about. Well worth downloading no matter your age.
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.