Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Columbidae
  4. ›
  5. Geophaps
  6. ›
  7. Spinifex Pigeon
Spinifex Pigeon
Photo · (c) patrickc, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Spinifex Pigeon

Geophaps plumiferaGould, 1842

Updated 21 March 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Endemic
Order
COLUMBIFORMES
Family
Columbidae
Genus
Geophaps

At a glance

The Spinifex Pigeon is a medium-sized bird, about 20–24 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
20–24 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Spinifex Pigeon look like?

The Spinifex Pigeon is a medium-sized bird, about 20–24 cm long and weighing 78–130 g.

The Spinifex pigeon, also known as the plumed-pigeon or gannaway pigeon, is one of three endemic Australian bird species within the genus Geophaps. It occurs within a broader group known as bronzewing pigeons. This species is listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List category of "least concern". It most frequently occurs in arid and semi-arid habitats containing hummock-forming grasses of the genera Triodia and Plectrachne.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
20–24 cm
Weight
78–130 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Spinifex Pigeon?

The Spinifex Pigeon is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Spinifex Pigeon eat?

The Spinifex Pigeon feeds on seeds, usually foraging in pairs or flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

The BirdUp app

Log your next Spinifex Pigeon in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Spinifex Pigeon live in Australia?

The Spinifex Pigeon is endemic to Australia, recorded across 36 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning west-central to east-central Australia.

BreedingWest-central to east-central Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Passage

6 regions recorded