Common Bronzewing
Phaps chalcoptera
Also known as: Guwadagang
About This Species
This ground-feeding Australian pigeon forages quietly on seeds in woodland, heath and mallee, its iridescent green-and-bronze wing patches only catching the light when it moves or flushes. It is easily overlooked while feeding on the ground but explodes into a fast, whistling-winged flight if startled, which is often the first sign a bird is present. Early morning and late afternoon near water in drier habitat are the most reliable times and places to find it.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Move slowly and expect it to flush at a distance rather than trying to close in, since a sudden flight response is a sign it has already been pushed too far.
- Native bird protections apply broadly across Australian states and territories, though the specific legislation and permitted activities differ by jurisdiction.
- Watching quietly from a fixed spot near a waterhole tends to produce longer, calmer views than walking toward a feeding bird.
LCAvesColumbiformesColumbidae
Seasonal Activity
315,410 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.