SummaryThe Australian pigeons are discussed in reference to their affinities within the family Columbidae. All the fruit pigeons, exceptLopholaimusare con-specific with or members of the same superspecies as extra-limital forms. The Topknot Pigeon is a unique endemic species. It is considered likely that species related to it formerly existed in Australia. Around Perth the introducedStreptopelia chinensisshows phenotypes with the plumage characters of two different geographical races. It seems probable thatChalcophaps indicaandC. stephanicannot co-exist on small islands; the same may be true forindicaand“chrysochlora”.The Australian bronzewings are an endemic group which probably derived from some ancestral form not unlikeChalcophaps.The drinking habits ofPhaps chalcopteramust have evolved under strong predation by diurnal birds of prey. Geographical variation inLophophapsandPetrophassais discussed.Geophaps smithiiforms a connecting link betweenGeophaps seriptaandLophophaps.The Crested Pigeon,Ocyphaps lophotes, is thought to have diverged from some form ancestral to both it andLophophapsafter this ancestral form had become terrestrial. The author is in favour of makingHistriophapsa synonym ofPhaps, andGeophapsandLophophapssynonyms ofPetrophassa. GeopeliaandLeucosarciaare thought to be offshoots of Australian bronzewing stock. The resemblances betweenGeopeliaandStreptopeliaare due to convergence.Macropygiais most probably more nearly related toChalcophaps, leaving aside its obvious alliesReinwardtoenaand (possibly)Turacoena.