The call of the wompoo is commonly heard and is audible up to one kilometre away. It is sometimes said to have an owl-like sound with its deep reverberating ‘wom-poo’ call. The first part sounds more like the ‘plonk’ of a rock dropped into deep water. There are also variations such as “wolluck – woo”. Although it is Australia’s largest fruit dove, and quite abundant in this rainforest, it tends to stay hidden in the foliage. Its presence is sometimes revealed in this Reserve by the constant dropping of fruit such as figs.
(Illustration by Beryl Robertson)
Ptilinopus magnificus 38 - 48cm
More brilliant birds . . .
Yellow-throated scrubwren – Eastern yellow robin – Rufous fantail – Golden whistler – Eastern whipbird – Noisy pitta – Regent bowerbird – Emerald dove – Rose-crowned fruit dove – Green catbird – Paradise riflebird – Wompoo fruit-dove
