Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata

Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata
Larger than the related Rock Dove, the Band-tailed Pigeon is a shy forest bird, although in some places it is beginning to venture near feeders and backyard berry sources. In the early part of this century the species was hunted almost to extinction, but it seems to have recovered. The two North American subspecies are distinguished chiefly by habitat: One is found in humid forests along the coast, and the other occurs in drier mountain woodlands of the interior.

Identification 13-15". Dark gray above; long tail has wide, pale gray band at end. Head and underparts purplish or pink in male, gray-brown in female. Both sexes have whitish crescent on nape.

Voice A low, owl-like whoo-hoooo; often repeated.

Habitat Moist conifer forests along coast; pine-oak woodlands inland.

Range SE. Alaska along coast to Baja California; Utah and Colorado south to Central America. Winters from Washington, S. Arizona, and S. New Mexico south.

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