Geophaps

The genus Geophaps was introduced in 1842 to accommodate the squatter pigeon (Geophaps scripta) by the English zoologist George Robert Gray.{{ cite book | last=Gray | first=George Robert | author-link=George Robert Gray | year=1842 | title=Appendix to a List of the Genera of Birds | edition=2nd | place=London | publisher= R. and J.E. Taylor | page=12 | url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14050359 }}{{ cite book | editor-last=Peters | editor-first=James Lee | editor-link=James L. Peters | year=1937 | title=Check-List of Birds of the World | volume=3 | publisher=Harvard University Press | place=Cambridge, Massachusetts | page=119 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14477834 }} The genus name combines of the Ancient Greek geō (γεω) meaning "ground" and phaps (φάψ), meaning "wild pigeon".

Pigeons and doves are placed in their taxonomic groups based predominantly on structural characteristics. Pigeons feed their young by regurgitation and suck water while their beak is immersed. Males and females divide incubation duties.{{Cite journal|last=Gifford|first=E.W.|date=1941|title=Taxonomy and Habits of Pigeons|jstor=4079108|journal=The Auk|volume=58|issue=2|pages=239–245|doi=10.2307/4079108|doi-access=free}}

Geophaps pigeons are members of the family Columbidae, whose distribution is spread between three defined areas around the globe: the Americas; Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia; and Asia, Australasia and Oceania. Australia and Oceania are home to almost two-thirds of all living species of Columbidae, which also includes three-quarters of all threatened species globally.{{Cite journal|last=Walker|first=Jonathan S.|date=July 2007|title=Geographical patterns of threat among pigeons and doves (Columbidae) |journal=Oryx |volume=41 |issue=3| pages=289–299| doi=10.1017/s0030605307001016 |doi-access=free}}

The genus contains three species:{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | year=2020 | title=Pigeons | work=IOC World Bird List Version 10.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/pigeons/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=5 March 2020 }}

• Spinifex pigeon, Geophaps plumifera
• Squatter pigeon, Geophaps scripta
• Partridge pigeon, Geophaps smithii

A fourth species, the crested pigeon is sometimes placed within the genus.{{Cite book|title=Pigeons and Doves: a Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World | last1=Gibbs |first1=David|last2=Barnes|first2=Eustace|last3=Cox|first3=John D.|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing| year=2010 | isbn=9781873403600|pages=329}}

Pigeons in the genus Geophaps are believed to have evolved from bird fossils which were found at Riversleigh, north-west Queensland. The fossils were described as a new genus and species of pigeon and are the oldest Columbia fossils to have been found globally. The fossil species has been most closely linked to the Australian bronzewings, including Geophaps species and suggests that pigeons may have evolved in the southern hemisphere. The fossil find indicates that the ancestry of Australian bronzewings goes back to the end of the Paleogene era.{{Cite journal|last=Worthy|first=Trevor, H.|date=2012|title=A phabine pigeon (Aves : Columbidae) from Oligo-Miocene Australia |journal=Emu |volume=112 |issue=1 |pages=23–31 |doi=10.1071/MU11061|bibcode=2012EmuAO.112...23W |s2cid=83994441 }}

All species of pigeons and doves are described as having short necks and legs, and a short, slender bill.{{Cite book |title=Integrated Principles of Zoology |last1=Hickman|first1=C.P. Jr. |last2=Roberts |first2=L.S.|last3=Larson|first3=A.|last4=I'Anson|first4=H.|publisher=McGraw Hill|year=2004|isbn=978-0072439403 |edition=twelfth |location=New York |url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780072930283}}

The three species within the Geophaps are endemic to Australia and are generally described as bronzewings. They are closely related to pigeons from the genus Phaps. The Geophaps species share partridge-like flight patterns and show no differences in plumage between the sexes. All members of the genus are terrestrial. Geophaps scripta and Geophaps smithii are closely related species and have with recognisable facial patterns. The spinifex pigeon has a long, erect crest and is considered reasonably different from the squatter pigeon and the partridge pigeon. It is sometimes placed in the genus Ocyphaps with the crested pigeon.

{{Species table |genus= Geophaps |authority-name=G.R. Gray |authority-year=1842 |species-count=three|no-note=y|narrow-percent=75}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Spinifex pigeon |binomial=Geophaps plumifera

|image=File:Spinifex Pigeon 0A2A1585.jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=

|authority-name=Gould |authority-year=1842 |authority-not-original=

|range= Dry parts of inland and Western Australia

|range-image=

|range-image-size=180px

|size=M: 200–208 mm

F: 206–216 mm

|habitat=

|hunting=

|iucn-status= LC

|population=

|direction=

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Three subspecies |bullets=on

|G.p.plumifera

|G.p.leucogaster

|G.p.proxima

}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Partridge pigeon |binomial=Geophaps smithii

|image=File:Geophaps smithii smithii, Yellow Waters, Kakadu National Park, Australia DSC 6129.jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=

|authority-name=Jardine & Selby |authority-year=1830 |authority-not-original=yes

|range= Kimberleys, N.T, Melville Island

|range-image=File:Partridge Pigeon.jpg

|range-image-size=180px

|size=M: 271–279 mm

F: 231–251 mm

|habitat=

|hunting=

|iucn-status= VU

|population=

|direction=

|subspecies=

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Squatter pigeon |binomial=Geophaps scripta

|image=File:Geophaps scripta 118881476.jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=

|authority-name=Temminck|authority-year=1821 |authority-not-original=yes

|range= Eastern Australia from Cape York to N.E NSW.

|range-image=

|range-image-size=180px

|size=M: 262–296 mm

F: 256–287 mm

|habitat=

|hunting=

|iucn-status= LC

|population=

|direction=

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Two subspecies |bullets=on

|G.s.scripta

|G.s.peninsulae

}}

}}

{{Species table/end}}

Table 1.1, shows the following information- Common name, scientific name/s, sub-species, size, distribution and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red List Status{{Cite web |url=http://www.iucnredlist.org |title=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Version 2015-4 |access-date=21 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627000000/http://www.iucnredlist.org/ |archive-date=June 27, 2014 }}

File:Squatter Pigeons Cement Mills.JPG

File:Crested pigeons and spinifex pigeons.jpg

Geophaps species are ground feeding granivores,{{Cite journal|last1=Franklin|first1=Donald C.|last2=Woinarski|first2=John C.Z.|last3=Noske|first3=Richard A.|date=July 2000|title=Geographical Patterning of Species Richness among Granivorous Birds in Australia |jstor=2656284 |journal=Journal of Biogeography|volume=27|issue=4|doi=10.1046/j.1365-2699.2000.00446.x|pages=829–842 |bibcode=2000JBiog..27..829F |s2cid=56129034 }} with studies finding that seeds make up their diet almost entirely, with a small number of insects found in the crops of Geophaps smithii.{{Cite journal |last1=Frith |first1=H.J. |last2=Wove |first2=T.O. |last3=Barker|first3=R.D.|date=1976|title=Foods of Eight Species of Columbidae, in the Genera Geopelia, Phaps, Geophaps and Petrophassa. |department=Division of Wildlife Research, CSIRO|journal=Australian Wildlife Research|volume=3|issue=2|pages=159–71 |doi=10.1071/wr9760159}} While the Spinifex pigeon is found in arid tussock/spinifex grasslands, the spinifex grass seeds have not been found to make up a large portion of their diet.{{Cite journal |last1=Frith |first1=H.J. |last2=Barker |first2=R.D. |year=1975|title=Food of the Plumed Pigeons, Geophaps plumifera and G. ferruginea.|department=Division of Wildlife Research|journal=Australian Wildlife Research|volume=2|doi=10.1071/wr9750063|page=63}}

All Geophaps pigeons exhibit a bowing display during courtship. The Spinifex pigeon and crested pigeon's display is performed with a raising and fanning out of the tail with their folded wings partly opened to display their iridescent wing marks to their potential partner. The other members of the Geophaps displays and bows in a very similar manner.

G. scripta has been recorded to have performed its courtship ritual where it stood fully erect on an exposed branch, with plumage slightly fluffed out. The male then bobs up and down rapidly and rhythmically, he displays alone and waits for a female to fly from cover to pair with him.{{Cite journal|last=Frith|first=H.J.|year=1977|title=Some Display Postures of Australian Pigeons |journal=Ibis |volume=119 |issue=2|pages=167–182|doi=10.1111/j.1474-919x.1977.tb03534.x}} Rainfall and food abundance has been shown to effect breeding cycles.{{Cite journal |last1=Frith |first1=H.J. |last2=Carpenter |first2=S.M. |last3=Braithwaite |first3=L.W. |date=1976 |title=Sexual cycles of pigeons in arid and semiarid Australia|journal=Australian Journal of Zoology |volume=24 |issue=3 |pages=331–335|doi=10.1071/zo9760331}}

Crested pigeons have been observed to build nests on a platform of branches, with both sexes collecting nest building material. The female builds the nest, lacing thin twigs through the substructure. They are thought to learn to build nests through trial and error.{{Cite journal|last=Baldwin|first=Merle|date=2012|title=Nest of the Crested Pigeon [online] |url= http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=885707897526628;res=IELHSS|journal=Journal of the Queensland Ornithological Society |volume=7 |access-date=22 March 2016}}

Pigeons and doves are parasitised by two major groups of lice; wing lice and body lice. Most birds are host to both groups, which eat the downy parts of feathers that are close to the body. Body lice have been found to be more likely to be host specific than wing lice, possibly due to their host ecology where terrestrial pigeons feeding on the ground may create an easier transfer of lice and therefore be more likely to carry host specific body lice than arboreal birds.{{Cite journal|last1=Johnson|first1=Kevin P. |last2=Weckstein |first2=Jason, D. | last3=Bush|first3=Sarah, E.|last4=Clayton|first4=Dale, H.|date=2011|title=The evolution of host specificity in dove body lice. |journal=Parasitology|volume=138|issue=13|pages=1730–1736 |doi=10.1017/S0031182010001770 |pmid=21349215 |citeseerx=10.1.1.470.6988 |s2cid=11274305 }}

Columbidae species are amongst the most threatened bird families around the world. Geophaps species' conservation is largely threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation caused predominantly by agriculture and human interference as well as by predation by introduced predators, namely cats.

As arid environments are naturally changing, it is difficult to gauge the extent of change caused by pastoralisation, however, grazing by livestock is considered incompatible with natural succession of ecosystems. Overgrazing by livestock causes alteration and degradation of soil and flora. Very few arid species have been recorded as declining in numbers since European settlement and some species, including the Spinifex pigeon and the Crested pigeon have increased in population size, possibly due to the increase in permanent water sources created for livestock.{{Cite journal|last1=Curry|first1=P.J.|last2=Hacker|first2=R.B.|date=1990|title=Can Pastoral Grazing Management Satisfy Endorsed Conservation Objectives in Arid Western Australia?|department=Western Australian Department of Agriculture|journal=Journal of Environmental Management|volume=30|issue=4|doi=10.1016/0301-4797(90)90025-r|pages=295–320|bibcode=1990JEnvM..30..295C }}

Species within the Geophaps have been named in Aboriginal stories and songs.

The Partridge pigeon (Geophaps smithii) has been listed as a bird species which features as a Morrdjdjanjno song subject. Morrdjdjanjno is a genre of song from the Arnhem Land plateau in the Northern Territory top end, they are sung only by men and passed down as 'open domain' songs. Morrdjdjanjno songs' subjects are discussed in relation to mythological events of religious significance and are believed to bring the singer into contact with the animal being sung about or to increase numbers of certain species.{{Cite journal|last=Garde|first=Murray|date=2007|title=Morrdjdjanjno ngan-marnbom story nakka, 'songs that turn me into a story teller': The morrdjdjanjno of western Arnhem Land|department=University of Melbourne|journal=Australian Aboriginal Studies}}

The Spinifex pigeon and crested pigeons have been recorded in versions of an Aboriginal children's story from Central Australia, conveying rich symbolic meanings between the Geophaps species and associations by the Arandic people with 'kurdaitchas' (a person who sets out to kill or harm someone, often in revenge, and who leaves no trace.{{Cite journal|last1=Green|first1=Jennifer|last2=Turpin|first2=Myfany|date=2013|title=If You Go Down to the Soak Today: Symbolism and Structure in an Arandic Children's Story|journal=Anthropological Linguistics|volume=55 |issue=4 |pages=358–394|doi=10.1353/anl.2013.0025 |s2cid=145335671 }}

{{Reflist | refs =

{{cite book | title = The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Names | url = https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling | first = James A. | last = Jobling | year = 2010 | location = London, UK | publisher = Christopher Helm | isbn = 978-1-4081-2501-4 | page = [https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling/page/n172 172] }}

}}

{{Columbimorphae Genera|C.|state=collapsed}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q133531}}

Category:Bird genera

Category:Endemic birds of Australia

Category:Taxa named by George Robert Gray