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190:) roams the grasslands of the northern half of the continent. Once found in enormous flocks, they are still to be seen in their thousands. Pizzey's description of their habits is memorable: "When locally abundant, at end of day, undulating, shearwater-like flocks fly to water, settle short distance away, and walk in. Thirsty latecomers may drop directly into water and drink while spreadeagled, before springing off."
215:) is an unmistakable ground-dwelling small pigeon, reddish-bronze in colour and prominently crested, with a unique upright, military stance. When disturbed, it prefers to run erratically, breaking into rapid, noisy flight only if pressed. A desert specialist, it is found in the arid and semiarid zones of the northern half of the continent.
172:) is uncommon, probably threatened. It is marginally smaller than the common bronzewing and rather secretive, except for its call, which is slightly faster and higher-pitched, but maintained through the hottest days with equally monotonous determination. Brush bronzewings nest low down, often on the ground, so are vulnerable to feral
126:, and several broadly similar birds also have the trademark wing patch to a more or less obvious degree. Bronzewings are ground feeders, but are capable of very fast flight. They tend to browse quietly until disturbed, then remain still, their earthy browns blending into the earth and
200:) are distinctive, common, and widespread. Usually seen in small flocks in open woodlands or grasslands, they are always close to water. With the clearing of much forest and the provision of water in arid regions for
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which have distinctive iridescent wing patches that appear bronze or green-brown in dull light, but flash in many bright colours in the sun as the bird moves. Three
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repeated at metronomic intervals for an interminable length of time. Although rather wary by nature, birds in the urban fringes become quite used to humans.
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and gravel where the grass grows only thinly, allowing easy movement. Squatter pigeons are restricted to the eastern half of
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until the intruder approaches too closely, when the bronzewings take off with an explosive burst of sudden wing clapping and
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is arbitrary; essentially, rock pigeons are bronzewings without bronze on their wings. Members of the group include:
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245:), like the very similar partridge pigeon, feeds, roosts, and nests on the ground, and prefers infertile sandy
226:) is a dull brown bird about 26 cm long found only in pairs or small flocks in the grasslands of northern
153:) is a large, bulky pigeon with a small head, found in all parts of Australia bar some of the deep desert,
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137:The dividing line between the bronzewings and the
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46:but its sources remain unclear because it lacks
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117:are always known as "bronzewings" in the
77:Learn how and when to remove this message
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97:, standing upon its semi-completed nest
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269:Field guide to the birds of Australia
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267:Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight;
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271:. Angus & Roberson, 1977,
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32:This article includes a
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155:Cape York Peninsula
93:A Brush Bronzewing
253:and north-eastern
228:Northern Territory
213:Geophaps plumifera
103:bronzewing pigeons
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34:list of references
297:Bird common names
232:Western Australia
198:Ocyphaps lophotes
184:Flock bronzewings
151:Phaps chalcoptera
147:common bronzewing
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220:partridge pigeon
166:brush bronzewing
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128:leaf litter
59:introducing
292:Columbinae
286:Categories
262:References
251:Queensland
243:G. scripta
224:G. smithii
170:P. elegans
109:native to
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111:Australia
132:feather
115:species
107:pigeons
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202:cattle
247:soils
178:foxes
159:whooo
123:Phaps
119:genus
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273:ISBN
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