page_title: Crested pigeon
section_title: Breeding
hierarchical_section_title: Crested pigeon / Behaviour / Breeding
caption_attribution_description: Will she or won't she - see &lt;a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lipkee/3033733647"&gt;www.flickr.com/photos/lipkee/3033733647&lt;/a&gt; Crested Pigeon - pair Ocyphaps lophotes Not quite Australian - Introduced Trin Warren Tam-boore, Royal Park, Melbourne, Australia 9th. November 2008 690V5818
context_page_description: The crested pigeon is a bird found widely throughout mainland Australia except for the far northern tropical areas. Only two Australian pigeon species possess an erect crest, the crested pigeon and the spinifex pigeon. The crested pigeon is the larger of the two species. The crested pigeon is sometimes referred to as a topknot pigeon, a common name shared with the reddish crested Lopholaimus antarcticus of Eastern Australia.
context_section_description: While they breed throughout the year, it is more common in the warmer months. Males approach females and begin an elaborate mating dance; they bob their bodies up and down, while opening and closing their wings like a fan with each bob. This is accompanied by a soft hooting which is timed with the bobbing. If the female is interested, she remains generally stationary as the male approaches, until copulation is attempted. Nesting usually occurs in shrubs or trees. Nests usually consist of a platform of twigs. They lay two oval, white, glossy eggs. The eggs usually hatch 3 weeks after they were laid. Both parents incubate the eggs.
caption: Mating display
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