Taxonomic Decision for Subspecies Arrangement

• Johnstone, R.E. 1981. Notes on the distribution, ecology and taxonomy of the Partridge Pigeon (Geophaps smithii) and Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera) in Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 9: 49-64 [53-54]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Dampierland (DL), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Northern Kimberley (NK), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal

General References

Condon, H.T. 1975. Checklist of the Birds of Australia. Part 1 Non-Passerines. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union xx 311 pp. (presenting alternative taxonomic arrangement)

Frith, H.J. 1982. Pigeons and Doves of Australia. Adelaide : Rigby vii 304 pp., 32 pls. (subspecific arrangement)

Mees, G.F. 1968. Colour of orbital ring in Partridge-Pigeon. The Emu 67: 294 (subspecific arrangement)

Peters, J.L. 1937. Check-list of Birds of the World. Cambridge : Harvard University Press Vol. 3 xiii 311 pp. (subspecific arrangement)

Salvadori, T. 1893. Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Columbae, or Pigeons. London : British Museum Vol. 21 xvii 676 pp. XV pls. (subspecific arrangement and for specific limits)

History of changes

• Geophaps smithii blaauwi Mathews, G.M. 1912. Additions and corrections to my Reference List to the Birds of Australia. Austral Avian Records 1(2): 25-52 [Date published 2 Apr 1912] [28] [as Geophaps smithi blaauwi; published without author—authorship credited in Austral Avian Rec. 1: 65].

  Type data:

   Holotype AMNH 616107 ♀ (G.M. Mathews' coll. no. 5634), Napier Broome Bay, N WA
  Comment: for identification of holotype, see Greenway, J.C. 1978. Type specimens of birds in the American Museum of Natural History. Pt 2. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 161: 1–306.

Distribution

States

Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

NW Kimberley Division, north to Napier Broome Bay, south to Yampi Peninsula and inland to Drysdale and upper Charnley Rivers.

IBRA

WA: Central Kimberley (CK), Dampierland (DL), Northern Kimberley (NK), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Western Australia: N coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Arboreal, diurnal, granivore, gregarious, open forest, sedentary, terrestrial, volant, woodland.

Extra Ecological Information

Randomly dispersed, seasonal breeder, ground-feeding seed-eater in well grassed woodland, flushes explosively—flapping high and gliding away, drinks in groups, nests on ground in early dry season, wanders only locally to seasonal food sources.

General References

Johnstone, R.E. 1981. Notes on the distribution, ecology and taxonomy of the Partridge Pigeon (Geophaps smithii) and Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera) in Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 9: 49-64 (distribution, habitat, behaviour, zoogeography, taxonomy)

History of changes

• Columba smithii Jardine, W. & Selby, P.J. 1830. Illustrations of Ornithology. Edinburgh : W.H. Lizars Series Vol. 1 Pt 7 pls 101-111. [text to pl. 104] [described from two specimens received from colonial secretary Macleay and quoted with the 'deep crimson-red' orbital skin of birds from Arnhem Land].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) whereabouts unknown (possibly RSM or UMZC), Arnhem Land, NT, probably vicinity of Port Essington (published without locality).
• Geophaps smithii cecilae Mathews, G.M. 1912. Additions and corrections to my Reference List to the Birds of Australia. Austral Avian Records 1(2): 25-52 [Date published 2 Apr 1912] [29] [as Geophaps smithi cecilae; published without author—authorship credited in Austral Avian Rec. 1: 65; maybe a dark form, status to be resolved; taxon previously cited with CAVS 9011].

  Type data:

   Holotype AMNH 616130 ♀ (G.M. Mathews' coll. no. 11381), Melville Is., NT
  Comment: for identification of holotype, see Greenway, J.C. 1978. Type specimens of birds in the American Museum of Natural History. Pt 2. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 161: 1–306;.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Johnstone, R.E. 1981. Notes on the distribution, ecology and taxonomy of the Partridge Pigeon (Geophaps smithii) and Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera) in Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 9: 49-64 [53-54]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory

Extra Distribution Information

Arnhem Land and Melville-Bathurst Ils, NT, south to Daly and N Roper River drainages, and today abundant only in upper Daly and Alligator Rivers catchments—formerly more widespread south-west to Keep River drainage, WA and south-east to McArthur River-Settlement Creek region, NT/QLD border.

IBRA

NT: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Arboreal, diurnal, granivore, gregarious, low open woodland, open forest, sedentary, terrestrial, volant, woodland.

Extra Ecological Information

Randomly dispersed, seasonal breeder, ground-feeding seed-eater in well-grassed woodland, flushes explosively, flapping high and gliding away, drinks in groups, nests on ground at close of wet season, wanders only locally to seasonal food sources.

General References

Frith, H.J. 1977. Some display postures of Australian pigeons. Ibis 119: 167-182 (behaviour)

Frith, H.J., Wolfe, T.O. & Barker, R.D. 1976. Food of eight species of Columbidae, in the genera Geopelia, Phaps, Geophaps and Petrophassa. Australian Wildlife Research 3: 159-171 (diet)

Goodwin, D. 1967. Australian pigeons: their affinities and status. The Emu 66: 319-336 (behaviour, seasonal cycles)

History of changes