Check out Australia Zoo’s Torres Strait Island Pigeon!

Grace’s Bird Garden is home to a variety of spectacular bird species, including the Torres Strait Island pigeon! Keep your camera handy as you might be lucky enough to spot one of these beautiful birds up close.

The Torres Strait Island pigeon is also known as an Australian pied imperial pigeon. They are found throughout forests of northern Australia and Papua New Guinea, and can be identified by their striking white plumage and greyish-silver outer wings! These stunning birds are herbivores so they feed on forest fruits, seeds, berries and plant matter. Occasionally, they will also eat small insects.

During the breeding season, from August to January, the Torres Strait Island pigeon will migrate from Papua New Guinea to northern Australia, where they will incubate and raise their young.

During the 1900s, the Torres Strait Island pigeon population was abundant in Far North Queensland. Unfortunately, due to hunting for meat and sport it was rare to spot this beautiful bird south of Cairns. Thankfully the wild population is now on the incline as they are considered a protected species and one of least concern, the Torres Strait pigeon can now occasionally be spotted as far south as Gladstone! Woo-hoo!