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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Columbidae
  4. ›
  5. Leucosarcia
  6. ›
  7. Wonga Pigeon
Wonga Pigeon
Photo · no rights reserved

BirdUp · Species

Wonga Pigeon

Leucosarcia melanoleuca(Latham, 1801)

Updated 11 June 2026

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

At a glance

The Wonga Pigeon is a large bird, about 38–45 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
38–45 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Wonga Pigeon look like?

The Wonga Pigeon is a large bird, about 38–45 cm long and weighing 220–500 g.

The wonga pigeon or wonga wonga is a pigeon that inhabits areas in eastern Australia with its range being from Central Queensland to Gippsland, eastern Victoria, Australia.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
38–45 cm
Weight
220–500 g
Wingspan
60 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Wonga Pigeon?

The Wonga 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

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

kemslie · Brogers Creek NSW 2535, Australia

Call

jimchurches · Morton National Park, Tallong, NSW, AU

Call

Auradyme · Queensland, AU

Call

Bronte-Maye · Bonville NSW 2450, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Wonga Pigeon eat?

The Wonga Pigeon feeds on fruit and seeds, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

The BirdUp app

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Wonga Pigeon live in Australia?

The Wonga Pigeon is endemic to Australia, recorded across 23 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingCentral QLD to south-east VIC (east and south-east Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant
  • Passage

8 regions recorded