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
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