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Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciataOrder: COLUMBIFORMES Family: Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)
Codes: Common Name: BTPI Scientific Name: PATFAS ITIS Taxonomic No.: 676899
Least Concern
 
Band-tailed Pigeon
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Overview

Band-tailed Pigeon: Large dove, small, purple-gray head and broad neck with distinctive, thin white band on nape. Back and wings are purple-gray, underparts grade from purple-gray neck and breast to white belly. Tail is pale gray, dark band at base. Bill, legs,feet are yellow. Swift direct flight.

Range and Habitat

Band-tailed Pigeon: Mainly found in the western Americas, the Southwest and Canada. Occurs as far north as British Columbia, and extends south to Argentina. Preferred habitats include coniferous and mixed forests.

Topo Map: Pigeon-like Body


Listen to Call

Similar Sounding

Voice Text

"oo-woo or whoo-oo-whoo"

Interesting Facts

 The Band-tailed Pigeon is the largest in North America.

 The parasitic louse Columbicola extinctus, believed to have become extinct with the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon, was recently rediscovered on the Band-tailed Pigeon.

 In June, and again in the late summer, they congregate at mineral springs where they ingest salts. Unlike most birds, including other pigeons, they are able to drink without raising their head.

 A group of pigeons has many collective nouns, including a "band", "dropping", "loft", "passel" and "school" of pigeons.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Gary Owen Dick

Artist

Yury Lisyak

Splitbar
Range Map for Band-tailed Pigeon

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Family Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)_blue
Species Patagioenas fasciata
Length14 - 15 Inches
Wingspan25 Inches

Band-tailed Pigeon

Band-tailed Pigeon: Large dove, small, purple-gray head and broad neck with distinctive, thin white band on nape. Back and wings are purple-gray, underparts grade from purple-gray neck and breast to white belly. Tail is pale gray, dark band at base. Bill, legs,feet are yellow. Swift direct flight.

● Song: "oo-woo or whoo-oo-whoo"

● Foraging & Feeding: Band-tailed Pigeon: Eats nuts, seeds, berries, blossoms, and insects; also feeds on crops such as cherries, berries, oats, barley, and wheat; forages on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Band-tailed Pigeon: Lays one or two white eggs in a flimsy platform nest made of sticks and twigs, lined with pine needles, and built in a tree. Incubation ranges from 18 to 20 days and is carried out by both parents. Young fledge 25 to 27 days later; may have two or three broods each year.

● Similar species: Band-tailed Pigeon: Rock Pigeon lacks white band on back of neck.

Flight Pattern

Swift strong direct flight.
Band-tailed Pigeon Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Band-tailed Pigeon: Mainly found in the western Americas, the Southwest and Canada. Occurs as far north as British Columbia, and extends south to Argentina. Preferred habitats include coniferous and mixed forests.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationUncommon to fairly common
MigrationMigratory
Weight12.5 Ounces
Pigeon-like BodyX
UnderpartsX
Belly, undertail coverts, chest, flanks, and foreneck.
BellyX
The ventral part of the bird, or the area between the flanks on each side and the crissum and breast. Flight muscles are located between the belly and the breast.
BreastX
The upper front part of a bird.
NapeX
Also called the hindneck or collar, it is the back of the neck where the head joins the body.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX