Adopt an Animal!
Are you an ardent animal lover? looking for a gift idea?
Why not adopt an animal from either Edinburgh Zoo or Highland Wildlife Park for a whole year!
Plan You Visit
Find out how to make the most of your trip and book tickets here.
Become a Member
Our membership package comes with lots of benefits including a year's unlimited free entry to both our parks!
You can join by post, phone or even today on the website.
| Common Name: | Crested pigeon | Family: | Columbidae |
| Latin Name: | Ocyphaps lophotes | Diet: | Herbivore |
| Type: | Bird | Habitat: | Woodlands, Grasslands |
| Native To: | Australasia | Social Unit: | Group |
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least concern |
Crested pigeons at Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo currently has six crested pigeons (Ocyphaps lophotes). We received a male and female in June 2005 from Attica Zoo in Greece where they both hatched in June 2004. Another female also arrived in June 2005 this time from Burger’s Zoo, Holland where she had hatched in March of the same year. In April 2006 a male chick hatched at Edinburgh Zoo and he left us in June 2007 for Blackpool Zoo. A female chick hatched in July 2007 followed by another chick in March 2010.
Where it can be found at Edinburgh Zoo
The crested pigeons can be found in the Australasian aviary at the koala exhibit sharing the walk-through with our Nicobar pigeons, green-winged doves, eclectus parrot and Victoria crowned pigeons.
Crested pigeons in the wild
The crested pigeon is native to Australia and they live in wooded grasslands close to water. Crested pigeons mainly eat seeds, but also forage for leaves, bulbs and insects. When crops are introduced to their habitat they can adapt to eat these as well as any weeds that grow. Male crested pigeons perform a courtship dance for their mate, after which they build a nest out of twigs in a tree or thick bush. The female lays two eggs in the nest and both parents incubate them for approximately three weeks until they hatch. Once three weeks old they can fly and leave the nest.
View our other animal profiles: