Band-tailed Pigeon

The Band-tailed Pigeon is a large, robust pigeon of western North American forests, the wild counterpart in appearance and size to the familiar Rock Pigeon but restricted to wooded mountain and coastal habitats rather than cities. It has an overall plain, soft gray body with a purplish-pink wash on the head and breast, a distinctive narrow white crescent across the back of the neck bordering an iridescent greenish patch, and a yellow bill with a black tip. In flight, a pale gray band crosses the tip of the otherwise dark tail, giving the species its name.

Key field marks

• Plain gray body with a purplish-pink wash on the head and breast
• White crescent on the nape above an iridescent green neck patch
• Yellow bill with a black tip and yellow legs
• Broad pale gray band across the tip of the tail, visible in flight

Similar species

Rock Pigeon is smaller-headed, more variably plumaged, lacks the nape crescent and pale tail band, and is associated with urban rather than forest habitat. Mourning Dove is much smaller and slimmer with a long pointed tail.

Habitat and Range

Band-tailed Pigeons inhabit coniferous and mixed forests and oak woodlands, often favoring areas with abundant mast-producing oaks or fruiting shrubs and reliable water sources.

Range

The species occurs along the Pacific coast and interior mountain ranges from British Columbia south through the western United States (California, Oregon, Washington, the Southwest) and further south through Mexico and Central America to South America, in two broadly recognized populations (Pacific coast and interior).

Migration

Many northern and higher-elevation populations are migratory, moving south or to lower elevations for the winter, while populations in milder coastal and southern areas may be largely resident.

Behavior

Band-tailed Pigeons are highly social outside the breeding season, gathering in large flocks at abundant food sources such as fruiting or masting trees, and are strong, fast fliers.

Voice

The call is a deep, owl-like series of low hoots, "whoo-whoo" or "who, who-hoo," quite different from the coo of smaller doves and sometimes mistaken for an owl.

Feeding

Acorns are a particularly important food source where available, supplemented by berries, seeds, and other fruit; flocks may travel considerable distances to reach productive mast crops.

Nesting and breeding

Pairs build a loose stick platform nest in a tree, typically laying just a single egg per clutch, and may attempt multiple nesting attempts across a breeding season.