Family Columbidae
These are readily recognised medium-sized seed or fruit-eating birds. Of the more than 30 species in Australia, only three are commonly seen in Canberra gardens. One introduced species also recorded in the survey was the Spotted Dove (11 records). This species is locally common and expanding on the eastern and southern seaboards, and is being sighted more frequently in Canberra. Four other species of native pigeons were recorded in the survey. These were the White-headed Pigeon (10), Diamond Dove (5), Peaceful Dove (11), and one sighting of a Wonga Pigeon in Aranda in 1998.
