Common bronzewing
{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Common Bronzewing male - Patchewollock.jpg
| image_caption = Male
| image2 = Phaps chalcoptera - Australian National Botanic Gardens.jpg
| image2_caption = Female
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Phaps
| species = chalcoptera
| authority = (Latham, 1790)
| range_map = CBZW range map.svg
| range_map_caption = {{legend0|#b10000|Natural range}}
}}
The common bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera) is a species of medium-sized, heavily built pigeon.{{cite web|url=http://birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=42|title=Birds in Backyards - Common Bronzewing|access-date= 19 June 2007}} Native to Australia and one of the country's most common pigeons, the common bronzewing is able to live in almost any habitat, with the possible exception of very barren areas and dense rainforests.{{cite web|url=http://www.faunanet.gov.au/wos/factfile.cfm?Fact_ID=416 |title=Wildlife of Sydney website |access-date=19 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829161909/http://faunanet.gov.au/wos/factfile.cfm?Fact_ID=416 |archive-date=29 August 2007 |url-status=dead }} Its advertising call is an extraordinary mournful whooo repeated at metronomic intervals.{{Cite book |last=Pizzey |first=Graham |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44806974 |title=The Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight field guide to the birds of Australia |date=1999 |publisher=Angus & Robertson |others=Frank Knight |isbn=0-207-19691-5 |location=Pymble, N.S.W. |oclc=44806974}}
Description
Males of the species have pale-yellow to yellow-white foreheads, and pink breasts.{{cite web|url=http://www.austmus.gov.au/factsheets/common_bronzewing.htm|title=Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera)|work=Australian Museum Online|access-date= 19 June 2007}} Both males and females have an easily discernible white line around and proximate to their eyes. Common bronzewings also have patches of red, blue and green on their wings, a feature which is characteristic of all bronzewing pigeons. Young birds are usually duller in colour and browner than the mature common bronzewing.
Rarely found far from a source of water, common bronzewings either travel alone or in pairs or in flocks, and are usually cautious, making approach by humans or other animals difficult. Common bronzewings are, on average, between 30 and 36 centimetres (12–14 in) in length.
Feeding
Breeding
Common bronzewings construct a rough nest of twigs and sticks, which is placed low down in a tree or bush. The eggs are incubated by both parents and hatch after roughly 14 to 16 days. Both parents share the responsibility of caring for the young. In common with other pigeons, common bronzewings release a milky substance from their crop to feed their young.
Gallery
File:Common Bronzewing Call.webm|The mournful, metronomic whooo call of the common bronzewing
File:Bronzewing-pigeon-feather.jpg|A feather showing the brilliant sheen of the common bronzewing
File:Colombine lumachelle MHNT.jpg|Egg
File:Commonbronzewingdisplay.jpg|During courtship, the male bows his head to the female and fans his tail to show off his iridescent feathers.
References
{{Commons category|Phaps chalcoptera}}
{{Wikispecies|Phaps chalcoptera}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal bar|Birds}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q928398}}