TOPKNOT PIGEON

The Topknot Pigeon – A Rainforest Wanderer

The Topknot Pigeon is one of Australia’s most striking native pigeons, instantly recognisable by its soft, dusty red crest that sweeps elegantly backwards over its head. Both males and females share this crest, which is often raised during courtship or when the bird is alert. At around 41 centimetres in length, they are large and robust, built for long flights between feeding grounds.

Appearance and Behaviour

When you see a Topknot Pigeon in flight, its broad, rounded wings and strong, deliberate wingbeats convey a sense of power. The body is mostly grey with subtle shades of brown and olive, and the eyes are a deep crimson — a splash of colour that catches the light in the canopy.

Often, you will spot them high above the forest in tight, coordinated flocks, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, moving like a single living cloud. Their call is a deep, resonant “coo-wooo”, carrying through the thick rainforest air, especially in the stillness of the morning.

Diet and Ecological Role

Topknot Pigeons are fruit specialists. They feed mainly on:

• Native figs
• Lilly pillies (Syzygium species)
• Bangalow palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana)
• Blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus)

They swallow fruits whole, including the seeds, which pass through their digestive system unharmed. In doing so, they perform a vital ecological service — seed dispersal. This means they help regenerate forests by carrying seeds far from the parent tree, depositing them in new locations where they can take root.

Interestingly, they have adapted to include some non-native fruits, such as those of the Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora). While Camphor Laurel is an invasive species, the pigeons’ feeding behaviour inadvertently assists in the spread of native plant seeds alongside it, contributing to revegetation of degraded areas.

Habitat

These pigeons thrive in forested habitats along the east coast of Australia, including:

• Subtropical and tropical rainforests
• Wet sclerophyll forests
• Forested gullies and coastal ranges

They are nomadic, travelling widely in search of fruiting trees. Their seasonal movements follow the rhythms of rainforest fruit production, meaning they may appear in large numbers in one area, then vanish for months.

Conservation and Challenges

Historically, Topknot Pigeons were hunted by early European settlers, and large areas of their habitat were cleared for agriculture. This caused significant population declines.

Today, populations have stabilised in many regions, but habitat loss remains a concern. Protecting large tracts of rainforest, controlling invasive weeds, and maintaining wildlife corridors are all crucial to ensuring their continued survival.

Their role as seed couriers of the rainforest makes them an important ally in conservation — they are not just surviving in the landscape, they are actively helping to rebuild it.

A Moment in the Rainforest

Imagine standing beneath the towering canopy on a warm, humid afternoon. The air is heavy with the sweet scent of ripe figs. Suddenly, a shadow passes overhead — then another, and another. Looking up, you see a swirling flock of Topknot Pigeons, their wings flashing pale grey against the deep green leaves, their red crests glowing in the filtered sunlight.

They circle once, then descend in a flurry of wingbeats to a fruit-laden tree, the forest filling with the soft rustle of feathers and the low murmur of their calls. In that moment, you are witnessing not just a feeding event, but the quiet work of rainforest renewal.