The white-quilled rock pigeon (Petrophassa albipennis) is a dark brown rock pigeon with a white patch on its wing.[2] It has distinctive pale lines across its face curving above and below its eye.[3] It is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is a rock dweller found roosting on sandstone cliffs and towers in the Kimberley, WA and east of the Victoria River, NT.[4][3] It is endemic to Australia.[5]
White-quilled rock-pigeon on sandstone escarpment.
There are two species of rock pigeon in Australia, the white-quilled and the chestnut-quilled. Their name reflects their habitat specialisation of sandstone gorges and rocky escarpments.[2][3]
Petrophassa albipennis was identified and named by John Gould in 1841. It reflects the aptness of the name that no alternatives have ever been recorded.[6] The genus name derives from Greek words: petros meaning rock (its preferred habitat) and phassa a wild pigeon giving Petrophassa, and the species name derives from the Latin albus meaning dull white and penna meaning feather leading to pennis meaning -winged referring to the large white patch on its wing when spread.[6]
Two subspecies are recognised:
P. a. albipennis - Gould, 1841[5][7] which is found in the Kimberley of Western Australia (WA), and in northwest Northern Territory (NT) as far east as the upper Daly River catchment.
P. a. boothi - Goodwin, 1969[5] which has a limited distribution around the Victoria River in the Northern Territory.[3][2]
Descriptionedit
The white-quilled rock pigeon is a large mid-brown to reddish-brown pigeon. It has wings measuring 122 to 145 mm and a bill 11.0 to 14.5 mm in length. Subspecies albipennis weighs 117 to 156 grams while the smaller subspecies boothi weighs between 103 and 142 grams.[3] It has white spots on its chin and forehead. The orbital skin is grey. Although their common name derives from the white wing panels visible in flight, its facial markings are also distinctive.[3][2] There are thin, pale lines "across the face, from the base of upper mandible curving above and behind eye, and from lower mandible below eye and curving across sides of head."[3]: 296
Subspecies albipennis, found mostly in WA, has large white patches on its wings while subspecies boothi, found in the NT, has smaller patches.
Behaviour and ecologyedit
The IUCN Red List identifies the pigeon's conservation status as Least Concern (LC)[1] but its Northern Territory Conservation Status is listed as Near Threatened (NT).[5]
The pigeon's habitat is rocky escarpments and gorges where they move easily among the rocks and boulders. They share a distinctive jizz with the chestnut-quilled rock pigeon, often appearing on a prominent rock or ledge with their body held horizontally, their tail held clear of the ground and their wings drooping below their tail.[3]
The white-quilled rock pigeon's defining characteristics were first recorded when the type specimens were collected by officers of HMS Beagle and detailed in an account of his Australian voyages of the Beagle by her commander, John Lort Stokes:
"(Feb. 11) . . . Some rather small pigeons (Petrophila albipennis Gould),of a dark brown colour, marked with a white patch on the wings, were seen, and some specimens shot. They made a whirring sound in flight, like the partridge, and appeared to haunt the rocks; a habit which all subsequent observation confirmed."
Stokes, 1846: 109-11[8] quoted in Parker,1968: 57-58[9]
They fly with a characteristic loud clattering of wings, often gliding from one high prominence to another. They feed in adjacent grassy woodlands but return to their escarpments when startled.[3]
Galleryedit
White-quilled rock pigeon (Cropped extract from The Birds of Australia, Gould 1848)
White-quilled rock pigeon, The Grotto, Wyndham, Western Australia
White-quilled rock pigeon perched on an escarpment, The Grotto, Wyndham, Western Australia
White-quilled rock pigeon showing typical jizz, Moochalabra Dam, near Wyndham, WA
Referencesedit
^ abBirdLife International (2016). "Petrophassa albipennis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22690695A93284059. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22690695A93284059.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Parker, S (1968). "The type-locality of white-quilled rock pigeon, Petrophassa albipennis Gould". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 88: 57–58 – via British Heritage Library.
May 04, 2024
white, quilled, rock, pigeon, white, quilled, rock, pigeon, petrophassa, albipennis, dark, brown, rock, pigeon, with, white, patch, wing, distinctive, pale, lines, across, face, curving, above, below, species, bird, family, columbidae, rock, dweller, found, ro. The white quilled rock pigeon Petrophassa albipennis is a dark brown rock pigeon with a white patch on its wing 2 It has distinctive pale lines across its face curving above and below its eye 3 It is a species of bird in the family Columbidae It is a rock dweller found roosting on sandstone cliffs and towers in the Kimberley WA and east of the Victoria River NT 4 3 It is endemic to Australia 5 White quilled rock pigeon White quilled Rock Pigeon at Wyndham Western Australia Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Columbiformes Family Columbidae Genus Petrophassa Species P albipennis Binomial name Petrophassa albipennisGould 1841 Contents 1 Taxonomy and systematics 2 Description 3 Behaviour and ecology 4 Gallery 5 ReferencesTaxonomy and systematics edit nbsp White quilled rock pigeon on sandstone escarpment There are two species of rock pigeon in Australia the white quilled and the chestnut quilled Their name reflects their habitat specialisation of sandstone gorges and rocky escarpments 2 3 Petrophassa albipennis was identified and named by John Gould in 1841 It reflects the aptness of the name that no alternatives have ever been recorded 6 The genus name derives from Greek words petros meaning rock its preferred habitat and phassa a wild pigeon giving Petrophassa and the species name derives from the Latin albus meaning dull white and penna meaning feather leading to pennis meaning winged referring to the large white patch on its wing when spread 6 Two subspecies are recognised P a albipennis Gould 1841 5 7 which is found in the Kimberley of Western Australia WA and in northwest Northern Territory NT as far east as the upper Daly River catchment P a boothi Goodwin 1969 5 which has a limited distribution around the Victoria River in the Northern Territory 3 2 Description editThe white quilled rock pigeon is a large mid brown to reddish brown pigeon It has wings measuring 122 to 145 mm and a bill 11 0 to 14 5 mm in length Subspecies albipennis weighs 117 to 156 grams while the smaller subspecies boothi weighs between 103 and 142 grams 3 It has white spots on its chin and forehead The orbital skin is grey Although their common name derives from the white wing panels visible in flight its facial markings are also distinctive 3 2 There are thin pale lines across the face from the base of upper mandible curving above and behind eye and from lower mandible below eye and curving across sides of head 3 296 Subspecies albipennis found mostly in WA has large white patches on its wings while subspecies boothi found in the NT has smaller patches Behaviour and ecology editThe IUCN Red List identifies the pigeon s conservation status as Least Concern LC 1 but its Northern Territory Conservation Status is listed as Near Threatened NT 5 The pigeon s habitat is rocky escarpments and gorges where they move easily among the rocks and boulders They share a distinctive jizz with the chestnut quilled rock pigeon often appearing on a prominent rock or ledge with their body held horizontally their tail held clear of the ground and their wings drooping below their tail 3 The white quilled rock pigeon s defining characteristics were first recorded when the type specimens were collected by officers of HMS Beagle and detailed in an account of his Australian voyages of the Beagle by her commander John Lort Stokes Feb 11 Some rather small pigeons Petrophila albipennis Gould of a dark brown colour marked with a white patch on the wings were seen and some specimens shot They made a whirring sound in flight like the partridge and appeared to haunt the rocks a habit which all subsequent observation confirmed Stokes 1846 109 11 8 quoted in Parker 1968 57 58 9 They fly with a characteristic loud clattering of wings often gliding from one high prominence to another They feed in adjacent grassy woodlands but return to their escarpments when startled 3 Gallery edit nbsp White quilled rock pigeon Cropped extract from The Birds of Australia Gould 1848 nbsp White quilled rock pigeon The Grotto Wyndham Western Australia nbsp White quilled rock pigeon perched on an escarpment The Grotto Wyndham Western Australia nbsp White quilled rock pigeon showing typical jizz Moochalabra Dam near Wyndham WAReferences edit a b BirdLife International 2016 Petrophassa albipennis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22690695A93284059 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22690695A93284059 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 a b c d Slater Peter Slater Pat Slater Raoul 2009 The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds 2nd ed London Sydney Auckland Reed New Holland pp 210 211 ISBN 9781877069635 a b c d e f g h i Menkhorst Peter Rogers Danny Clarke Rohan Davies Jeff Marsack Peter Franklin Kim 2017 The Australian Bird Guide Clayton Vic CSIRO Publishing pp 296 297 ISBN 978 0643097544 White quilled Rock Pigeon eBird ebird org Retrieved 2020 04 07 a b c d Atlas of Living Australia Species Petrophassa albipennis White Quilled Rock Pigeon bie ala org au Retrieved 2020 04 07 a b Fraser Ian Gray Jeannie 2019 Australian Bird Names Origins and Meanings Clayton South Vic CSIRO Publishing pp 31 32 37 ISBN 9781486311637 Gould John 1848 The Birds of Australia in seven volumes London Published by the author Stokes JL 1846 Discoveries in Australia Volume I London pp 109 111 Parker S 1968 The type locality of white quilled rock pigeon Petrophassa albipennis Gould Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club 88 57 58 via British Heritage Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title White quilled rock pigeon amp oldid 1213083970, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
