From Opus

Phaps chalcoptera

Photo by Corwin
Lysterfield Lake Park, Melbourne, Australia, August 2004

[edit] Identification

• Metallic green
• Blue and red patches in wing
• White line below and around eye
• Pinkish-grey breast
• Light brown nape and back
• Pale throat
  

Male

• Yellowish-white forehead
• Pink breast
  

Juvenile: duller and browner

Female
Photo by Tom Tarrant
Samsonvale. South-eastern Queensland, August 2004

[edit] Distribution

Australian endemic. Found in New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Two subspecies murchisoni and consobrina are generally considered invalid^[2].

[edit] Habitat

Most areas apart from barren land and very dense rainforest. Usually near water.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

They are ground feeders and the diet includes seeds and plant material.

[edit] Breeding

The nest is built from sticks and twigs placed low down in a tree or bush. The clutch consists of 2 creamy-white eggs which are incubated for 15 days. Both parents share incubation and the care of the young.

[edit] Vocalisation

Call: deep oom, repeated several times.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
2. Avibase
3. Birds in Backyards

• List of references

[edit] External Links