Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

Order COLUMBIFORMES - Family COLUMBIDAE

Menu

1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

Although this large pigeon looks a lot like the introduced Rock Pigeon, it's a native. The Band-tailed Pigeon is found in two distinct regions in the American West, as well as throughout Central and South America.

Cool Facts

• Though the species has two distinct breeding populations in the United States, individuals do move from one region to the other. One Band-tailed Pigeon banded in Oregon was shot a year later in Florida, well outside the normal range.

• An Oregon study found that the average distance a Band-tailed Pigeon traveled from its nest to a feeding site was 5 km (3.1 mi).

Description

• Size: 33-40 cm (13-16 in)
• Weight: 342-364 g (12.07-12.85 ounces)

• Large pigeon.
• Dark overall.
• White collar on nape.
• Tail dark gray at base, light gray across the tip.
• Feet yellow.

• Purple-gray head and breast.
• Iridescent greenish-bronze patch below the white collar.
• Rump and wing coverts gray but paler than rest of gray upperparts.
• Underparts become paler toward undertail.
• Bill yellow with black tip.

Sex Differences

Sexes look similar, but females duller, with narrower white crescent and less extensive iridescence. Males slightly larger.

Immature

Juvenile lacks white crescent and iridescent patch on nape.

Similar Species

• Rock Dove has pale to white rump, a dark, not light, band to tip of tail, red legs and feet, and a dark bill.

Sound

Repeated deep hooting coos, rising slightly in pitch. Wing clap on taking flight.

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Breeds in two distinct regions: Along the Pacific coast from southern British Columbia through California, and in the mountains of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas. Also from north and central Mexico through the highlands of Central America, and in the Andes of South America eastward to Venezuela.

Winter Range

Pacific Coast birds winter in central California. Interior pigeons winter along the southern border of the United States and into Mexico.

Habitat

• Breeds in wet coniferous forests along the Pacific Coast and in mixed evergreen forests.
• Also in dry montane coniferous forests of the interior, and urban and suburban areas.

Food

Seeds, fruit, acorns, pine nuts, and flowers.

Behavior

Foraging

Feeds on ground and in trees in small flocks. Travels long distances to gather food.

Reproduction

Nest Type

A flat saucer of loosely intertwined twigs, placed on a sturdy tree limb.

Egg Description

White, highly glossy.

Clutch Size

Usually 1 egg. Range: 1-2.

Condition at Hatching

Helpless, with long orange-yellow down.

Conservation Status

Populations declining in most areas.

Other Names

Pigeon à queue barrée (French)
Paloma de collar, Paloma collareja, Paloma torcaza, Paloma encinera (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Keppie, D. M., and C. E. Braun. 2000. Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata). In The Birds of North America, No. 530 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.