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.