Common Bronzewing

COMMON BRONZEWING (Phaps chalcoptera)

This single bronzewing pigeon was digging amongst the grass,fallen leaves and twigs under the peppermint gums in the Monument bush yesterday.






There was just this one single bird and he looked very lonely. I think this is a male, the pale area over the beak is more buff coloured than white and the "White cheek stripe curves back and wider down towards blue-sided neck." (quoted from Michael Morcombe's Field Guide To Australian Birds).

I had seen a single bird here a few days previously, perhaps it was the same bird or perhaps it was the mate.The Bronzewings share the duties of the nest, taking turns to sit on the eggs  whilst the other feeds.

Named from the Greek Khalkos, copper or bronze and pteron, wing