Photo: John Gould / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Thick-billed Ground Pigeon
Trugon terrestris
Thick-billed Ground Pigeon (Trugon terrestris) — Pigeons & Doves of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Thick-billed Ground Pigeon (Trugon terrestris) is a member of the Columbidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 400 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 Trugon
- Species terrestris
Where it lives
Salawati (Raja Ampat Is., northwest of New Guinea) and New Guinea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 400 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Thick-billed Ground Pigeon is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Thick-billed Ground Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Thick-billed Ground Pigeon (Trugon terrestris) is a species of bird in the Columbidae family, part of the order Columbiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Salawati (Raja Ampat Is., nw of New Guinea) and New Guinea.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 400 g, with a wing length of about 17.4 cm and a tail of around 12.1 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 652,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Thick-billed Ground Pigeon?
The Thick-billed Ground Pigeon is a large bird that weighs around 400 g.
Where does the Thick-billed Ground Pigeon live?
The Thick-billed Ground Pigeon is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Salawati (Raja Ampat Is., nw of New Guinea) and New Guinea, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Thick-billed Ground Pigeon belong to?
The Thick-billed Ground Pigeon (Trugon terrestris) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Thick-billed Ground Pigeon eat?
The Thick-billed Ground Pigeon is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Thick-billed Ground Pigeon migrate?
The Thick-billed Ground Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Thick-billed Ground 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.
How large is the Thick-billed Ground Pigeon's range?
The Thick-billed Ground Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 652,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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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.