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{{Short description|Group of birds}}
{{no footnotes|date=March 2013}}
[[File:Bronze wing444.jpg|thumb|right|350px|alt=A Brush Bronzewing, standing upon its semi-completed nest|A Brush Bronzewing ''Phaps elegans'', standing upon its semi-completed nest]]
The '''bronzewing pigeons''' are a group of [[
The dividing line between the bronzewings and the [[Petrophassa|rock pigeon]]s is arbitrary
▲The '''bronzewing pigeons''' are a group of [[Australian]] [[pigeon]]s with a distinctive iridescent wing patch which bronze or green-brown in dull light, but flashes in many bright colours in the sun as the bird moves.
* The
▲There are three species always known as "bronzewings" in the genus ''Phaps'', and several broadly similar birds that also have the trademark wing patch to a more or less obvious degree. Bronzewings are ground feeders but capaple of very fast flight. They tend to browse quietly until disturbed, then remain still, their earthy browns blending into the earth and leaf litter until the intruder approaches too closely, at which point the bronzewing takes off with an explosive burst of sudden feather noise, and dissapears from sight within moments.
* The [[brush bronzewing]] (''P. elegans'') is uncommon, probably threatened. It is marginally smaller than the common bronzewing and rather secretive, except for its call, which is slightly faster and higher-pitched, but maintained through the hottest days with equally monotonous determination. Brush bronzewings nest low down, often on the ground, so are vulnerable to feral [[cat]]s and [[fox]]es.
* [[Flock bronzewing]]s (''P. histrionica'') roams the grasslands of the northern half of the continent. Once found in enormous flocks, they are still to be seen in their thousands. Pizzey's description of their habits is memorable: "When locally abundant, at end of day, undulating, shearwater-like flocks fly to water, settle short distance away, and walk in. Thirsty latecomers may drop directly into water and drink while spreadeagled, before springing off."
* [[Crested pigeon]]s (''Ocyphaps lophotes'') are distinctive, common, and widespread. Usually seen in small flocks in open woodlands or grasslands, they are always close to water. With the clearing of much forest and the provision of water in arid regions for [[cattle]], crested pigeons have increased in number.
* The [[spinifex pigeon]] (''Geophaps plumifera'') is an unmistakable ground-dwelling small pigeon, reddish-bronze in colour and prominently crested, with a unique upright, military stance. When disturbed, it prefers to run erratically, breaking into rapid, noisy flight only if pressed. A desert specialist, it is found in the arid and semiarid zones of the northern half of the continent.
* The [[partridge pigeon]] (''G. smithii'') is a dull brown bird about 26 cm long found only in pairs or small flocks in the grasslands of northern [[Northern Territory]] and northern [[Western Australia]].
* The [[squatter pigeon]] (''G. scripta''), like the very similar partridge pigeon, feeds, roosts, and nests on the ground, and prefers infertile sandy [[soil]]s and gravel where the grass grows only thinly, allowing easy movement. Squatter pigeons are restricted to the eastern half of [[Queensland]] and north-eastern [[New South Wales]].
== References ==
▲The dividing line between the bronzewings and the [[rock pigeon]]s is arbitrary: essentially, rock pigeons are bronzewings without bronze on their wings. Members of the group include:
* Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight; ''Field guide to the birds of Australia''. Angus & Roberson, 1977, {{ISBN|0-207-19691-5}}
[[Category:Columbinae]]
▲* The '''Common Bronzewing''' (''Phaps calcoptera'') is a large, bulky pigeon with a small head, found in all parts of Australia bar some of the deep desert, [[Cape York Peninsula]], and urban areas. Its advertising call is an extraordinary mournful ''whooo'' repeated at metronomic intervals.
[[Category:Bird common names]]
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