Photo: Josh Anderson / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
White-quilled Rock Pigeon
Petrophassa albipennis
White-quilled Rock Pigeon (Petrophassa albipennis) — Pigeons & Doves of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-quilled Rock Pigeon (Petrophassa albipennis) is a member of the Columbidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 124 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 Petrophassa
- Species albipennis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 124 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-quilled Rock Pigeon is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The White-quilled Rock Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-quilled Rock Pigeon (Petrophassa albipennis) belongs to the Columbidae family of the order Columbiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU nc Australia (except Top End).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 124 g, with a wing length of about 13.3 cm and a tail of around 10.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 236,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-quilled Rock Pigeon?
The White-quilled Rock Pigeon is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 124 g.
Where does the White-quilled Rock Pigeon live?
The White-quilled Rock Pigeon is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU nc Australia (except Top End), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the White-quilled Rock Pigeon belong to?
The White-quilled Rock Pigeon (Petrophassa albipennis) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the White-quilled Rock Pigeon eat?
The White-quilled Rock Pigeon is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the White-quilled Rock Pigeon migrate?
The White-quilled Rock Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-quilled Rock 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 White-quilled Rock Pigeon make?
1 real field recording of the White-quilled Rock Pigeon — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-quilled Rock Pigeon's range?
The White-quilled Rock Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 236,000 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.