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. Squatter Pigeon
Squatter Pigeon
Photo · (c) Kym Nicolson, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Squatter Pigeon

Geophaps scripta(Temminck, 1821)

Updated 21 March 2026

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

At a glance

The Squatter Pigeon is a medium-sized bird, about 26–32 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
26–32 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 Squatter Pigeon look like?

The Squatter Pigeon is a medium-sized bird, about 26–32 cm long and weighing 180–250 g.

The squatter pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to northeastern Australia. According to Australia's then Department of the Environment and Energy, the nominate subspecies, southern squatter pigeon is listed as vulnerable. It lives in arid and semi-arid areas, including grasslands and dry sclerophyll forests, and nest in shallow depressions in the ground. About 95% of the diet of these birds consists of seeds, as they are known for foraging on the ground.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
26–32 cm
Weight
180–250 g
Wingspan
45 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

  • True to its name, this species often freezes and crouches flat against the ground when approached, relying on its cryptic coloration rather than fleeing.

flight

  • Flushed birds take off with a loud, mechanical wing-clatter and usually fly rapidly and low to the ground before quickly landing again.

plumage

  • Look for bold black-and-white facial stripes and a distinctive eye-ring, which is blue-grey in southern populations and orange-red to pink in the north.
  • A prominent white V-shaped stripe is visible along the sides of the breast and flanks while the bird is standing.

voice

  • Listen for a soft, low-pitched and rhythmic 'coo-coo' or 'wooh-wooh' call, often repeated several times.

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Squatter Pigeon?

The Squatter 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 Squatter Pigeon eat?

The Squatter Pigeon feeds on seeds and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

The BirdUp app

Log your next Squatter 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 Squatter Pigeon live in Australia?

The Squatter Pigeon is endemic to Australia, recorded across 18 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning north-east and east-central Australia.

BreedingNorth-east and east-central Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant

6 regions recorded