Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeon

Petrophassa rufipennis

When taking off, their wings produce a loud, mechanical whistling sound that serves to startle potential predators.

Scientific name: Petrophassa rufipennis
Taxonomy: Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Columbiformes › Columbidae › Petrophassa
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: desert
Habitat: Sandstone escarpments, rocky gorges, and spinifex-covered plateaus.
Diet: Granivorous; feeds on the seeds of grasses and shrubs found in rocky crevices.
Range: Northern Territory, Australia, Arnhem Land Plateau, Kakadu National Park
Size: 28-31 cm in length, weighing approximately 250-300g.
Lifespan: 5-8 years
Active: diurnal
Threats: High-intensity bushfires that destroy seed banks and predation by feral cats.
Safe to approach?: Harmless and shy. Maintain a respectful distance of 5-10 meters to avoid startling the bird. They are not aggressive and pose no risk to humans; simply observe their unique rock-climbing behavior from afar.

The chestnut-quilled rock pigeon ( Petrophassa rufipennis ) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to northern Australia.

Photo: Alan Bell, CC-BY, via iNaturalist