Band-tailed pigeon
Columba fasciata
Identification Tips:
- Length: 13.5 inches
- Sexes similar
- Adult similar to juvenile
- Large, chunky dove
- Medium length tail is squared off at tip
- Yellow bill with black tip
- Purplish head foreneck and breast
- Scaly green iridescent nape marked above by a white band
- Dark gray back and primaries
- Pale gray secondary coverts and rump
- Dark gray tail with wide pale gray terminal band
- Pale belly
Similar species:
The Rock Dove is superficially similar but never has a purplish head and neck
with a scaly, green hindneck and white bar. The Band-tailed Pigeon also has
a distinctive black-tipped yellow bill and has a terminal band paler than the
rest of the tail.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.