WOMPOO FRUIT-DOVE
Photo: C & D Frith
Australia's Cape York Peninsula
WOMPOO FRUIT-DOVE: Ptilinopus magnificus 37 cm In Australia the Wompoo Fruit-Dove is a common resident of rainforests. Despite its colourful plumage (of purples, greens, yellows, and blues) it can be difficult to observe in the rainforest canopy. However, it flies noisily and has loud calls. It feeds on mainly succulent fruits, even large ones such as figs being swallowed whole. The name refers to its extraordinary call that sounds eerily like a human voice. This distinctive ‘wollack-wa-hoo’ calls can be heard year round in the Lake Eacham rainforest. - Although it feeds mainly in the canopy, it is sometimes seen eating fallen fruit on
the forest floor beside the pathway of the Lake Eacham Walk. - It is also often seen feeding in the top of fruiting trees around Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodge .
- It is the largest of the Tropical North Queensland fruit-doves.
The nests of many pigeons and doves seem to consist of not much more than a
beakful of twigs and a prayer. It is surprising that they hold eggs, let alone wriggling
nestlings. It has been suggested that these nests may dry out quickly after rain. Flimsiness, however, may be an illusion; the sticks in nests of superb fruit-doves were found to consist of forked twigs which were locked into place and difficult to pull apart. (Source: Department of Environment)
Additional Wompoo Fruit Dove Photos RETURN TO BIRD INDEX
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