Doves and Pigeons

Overview

Approximately 340 species of pigeons and doves (family Columbidae, order Columbiformes) are distributed almost worldwide, with strongest representation in tropical and subtropical regions. In Australia they occur in most habitats, from the dense rainforests of north Queensland to the windswept heathlands of Tasmania. This issue depicts just four of the more than 20 species of pigeons and doves native to Australia.

The stamp illustrator is Australian artist William T Cooper AO (1934–2015), who was once described by Sir David Attenborough as the best ornithological illustrator alive. Cooper illustrated many books on birds, including the definitive publication Pigeons and Doves in Australia (CSIRO Publishing, 2015) with text by his longtime collaborator, renowned ornithologist Joseph M Forshaw AM. Cooper’s beautiful illustrations for this book are reproduced, with permission, for this stamp issue.

Technical specifications

Issue date: 1 June 2021
Issue withdrawal date: 31 December 2021
Denomination: $1.10 x 4
Stamp illustration: William T Cooper
Stamp and product design: Sonia Young, Australia Post Design Studio
Paper: gummed: Tullis Russell
Paper: self-adhesive: RAF Unik
Printer: gummed: Ego
Printer: self-adhesive: MCC
Printing process: gummed: Offset lithography
Printing process: self-adhesive: Flexographic
Stamp size (mm): 37.5 x 26
Minisheet size (mm): 170 x 80
Perforations: 13.86 x 14.6
Sheet layout: Module of 50
FDI Postmark: Doveton Vic 3177
FDI withdrawal date: 30 June 2021

Stamps in this issue

$1.10 Topknot Pigeon

This large, arboreal pigeon, so named for its distinctive crest, is recovering from past excessive hunting and is again becoming common in coastal and subcoastal forests of eastern Australia, where its range expands south into eastern Victoria. The diet of this pigeon consists almost entirely of fruit, which varies throughout its range as fruit ripen at different times during the year.

$1.10 Superb Fruit-Dove

Despite its brilliant plumage colouration, the arboreal Superb Fruit-dove remains well hidden amidst foliage, so is more often heard than seen in the rainforests of eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. This fruit-dove feeds primarily on fruits and berries.

$1.10 White-Headed Pigeon

This pigeon is becoming increasingly common in the same forests as the Topknot Pigeon. It is colonising open woodlands, farmlands and urban gardens. The White-headed Pigeon feeds on rain-forest fruit and seeds and has a special taste for the introduced Camphor Laurel.

$1.10 Squatter Pigeon

Favouring drier inland woodlands and grasslands of north-eastern Australia, this ground-dwelling pigeon has disappeared from northern New South Wales and much of southern Queensland because of habitat loss and predation by cats and foxes. This pigeon feeds almost exclusively on seeds from grasses, herbs and shrubs, commonly foraging along the sides of roads.