Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)

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Band-tailed pigeon
In San Luis Obispo, California, USA
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Genus:	Patagioenas
Species:	P. fasciata
Binomial name
Patagioenas fasciata (Say, 1822)
Range of P. fasciata   Breeding   Year-round   Nonbreeding
Synonyms
Columba fasciata (Say, 1823) Patagioenas albilinea

The (northern) band-tailed pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)^[3] is a pigeon native to the Americas, the largest pigeon native to North America, and is California's only native pigeon^[4]. It is a large, gray pigeon, characterized by a thin white collar on the nape of its neck and a purple-gray belly^[5].

It is the largest pigeon in North America, both sexes measuring between 33 to 40 cm (13 to 16 in) long and weighing 342 to 364 g (12.1 to 12.8 oz)^[5]. The band-tailed pigeon has thick-based, pointed wings, with a wingspan of 66 cm (26 in).^[6]

The plumage is gray, somewhat darker above. The head and underparts have a faint pink cast, especially in the adult male; the belly is nearly white. The distal half of the tail is also pale (except in the subspecies of Baja California), whence the English name. The bill and feet are yellow, with good identification marks at sufficiently close range. Adults have green iridescence on the back of the neck, adjacent to a thin white collar on the nape. Juvenile birds have white feather edges above, giving a scaly appearance.

Unlike the majority of other birds, band-tailed pigeons roam throughout the year, not having a single home range. However, they are usually found at higher elevations, in coniferous forests, oak woodlands, and scrublands. ^[7] It ranges from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and southern Arizona south in higher elevations through Mexico and Central America to northern Argentina. It lives primarily in damp forests and conifer-oak woodlands of the Western Mountains and coast.

Band-tailed pigeons are nomadic feeders, changing their diet along the seasons, and will travel up to three miles away from their nests to feed. ^[8]

As forest birds, they feed both off the floor and from the trees. Their diets are centered on acorns, though they will also feed on berries, seeds, flowers, leaves, and even insects. Though, in times of food scarcity, they move closer to urban areas, being found in the suburbs, in forested parks, orchards, and even backyards. ^[5]

According to the North American Breeding Survey, the population of band-tailed pigeons has declined at an average rate of 2% every year since 1968–primarily due to deforestation. ^[4] Forest management, a practice that is supposed to promote forests’ environmental, economic, and social goals, can harm the band-tailed pigeons due to its suppression of shrubs and hardwood growth. While forest management can help these birds in terms of nesting habitats, they rely heavily on hardwoods and fruit and nut producing shrubs for food during breeding seasons.^[4]

In California, agriculture and urban sprawl–the expansion of low-density housing developments–lead to significant declines in valley and blue oak woodland habitats. These areas that are being humanly modified are crucial for band-tailed pigeons in the winter, being a major area of acorn mast for food. ^[4]

Band-tailed pigeons typically produce one egg per nesting attempt, factoring into its declining population. ^[4]

The avian Trichomonosis disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae, is a major concern to the band-tailed pigeons and has killed thousands of these birds during winter seasons. Several organizations actively monitor harvested birds for the presence of disease causing protozoa. ^[4]

This species is relatively quiet for a pigeon. Its voice is low-pitched and owl-like, often in two-syllable calls that rise and then fall (huu-ooh) with even spacing between calls.^[9] It also makes a variety of harsh squawking sounds for a variety of reasons. They are swift and agile fliers, allowing them to navigate through these high treetops and branches. When flying, they create a "wing whistle," a distinctive noise heard from many other pigeon species as well. ^[7]

It builds a rudimentary platform nest out of twigs, in which it lays one or two eggs. Outside the breeding season, it forms flocks, ranging up to 300 birds, often becomes nomadic, following the acorn crop or moving to lower altitudes or other areas outside its breeding range. They commonly congregate at and drink from mineral springs, although it is not fully understood why.

Band-tailed pigeons build nests in pairs, with the female building the nests in trees out of twigs, often closely together to form small colonies. Eggs are laid one at a time and occasionally in pairs. The eggs hatch after around three weeks after the parents take turns incubating them. Adult band-tailed pigeons can raise multiple broods per year, each typically leaving the nest after 25-30 days. ^[8]

Both adult pigeons begin producing “crop milk” a few days before their eggs hatch. Crop milk is a nutrient-dense substance that pigeons and doves produce in the section of their lower esophagus called the crop. This pigeon milk is unique–chunkier and more yellow than mammalian milk–in which it contains very high levels of fats, proteins, antioxidants, and immune-enhancing substances. To feed their hatchlings, adult band-tailed pigeons regurgitate the crop milk into their mouths during the first few weeks of their lives.  After this short period, the parents stop producing crop milk and start feeding their hatchlings regular softened food that is also fed by regurgitation. ^[8]

Its closest living relatives are the Chilean pigeon and the ring-tailed pigeon, which form a clade of Patagioenas. Though 2 main sub-species, there are at least 8 sub-species, and some authorities split this species into the northern band-tailed pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)^[10] and the southern band-tailed pigeon (Patagioenas albilinea).^[11][12]

• Patagioenas fasciata monilis (P.f. monilis)^[4]
  • Pacific Coast subspecies in California, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Baja California
• Patagioenas fasciata fasciata (P.f. fasciata)^[4]
  • Interior, or Four Corners subspecies in Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and winters in Mexico
• Patagioenas fasciata albilinea
• Patagioenas fasciata crissalis
• Patagioenas fasciata letonai
• Patagioenas fasciata parva
• Patagioenas fasciata roraimae
• Patagioenas fasciata vioscae ^[13]

The band-tailed pigeon is the closest living relative of the extinct passenger pigeon and has been investigated for use in efforts to bring back that species.^[14][15]

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^[7].

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Patagioenas fasciata.

Wikispecies has information related to Patagioenas fasciata.

• BirdLife species factsheet for Patagioenas fasciata
• "Patagioenas fasciata". Avibase.
• "Band-tailed pigeon media". Internet Bird Collection.
• Band-tailed pigeon photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
• Audio recordings of Band-tailed pigeon on Xeno-canto.