Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
New Zealand Pigeon
Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) — Pigeons & Doves of Australia & Oceania.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) is a member of the Columbidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 653 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Columbiformes
- Family Columbidae Pigeons, Doves
- Genus Hemiphaga
- Species novaeseelandiae
Where it lives
North, South and Stewart is. (New Zealand) and formerly Norfolk I. (far east of Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 653 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The New Zealand Pigeon is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The New Zealand Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) is a species of bird in the Columbidae family, part of the order Columbiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU North, South and Stewart is. (New Zealand) and formerly Norfolk I. (far e of Australia).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 653 g, with a wing length of about 25.7 cm and a tail of around 19.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 208,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the New Zealand Pigeon?
The New Zealand Pigeon is a large bird that weighs around 653 g.
Where does the New Zealand Pigeon live?
The New Zealand Pigeon is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU North, South and Stewart is. (New Zealand) and formerly Norfolk I. (far e of Australia), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the New Zealand Pigeon belong to?
The New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the New Zealand Pigeon eat?
The New Zealand Pigeon is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the New Zealand Pigeon migrate?
The New Zealand Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the New Zealand Pigeon endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the New Zealand Pigeon make?
1 real field recording of the New Zealand Pigeon can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the New Zealand Pigeon's range?
The New Zealand Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 208,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Columbidae
A field guide to the Columbidae family — 352 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.