Band-tailed pigeon

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Band-tailed pigeon
Patagioenas fasciata -San Luis Obispo, California, USA-8 (1).jpg
In San Luis Obispo, California, USA
Status TNC G4.svg
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Patagioenas
Species:
P. fasciata
Binomial name
Patagioenas fasciata
(Say, 1822)
Patagioenas fasciata map.svg
Synonyms

Columba fasciata(Say, 1823)
Patagioenas albilinea

The band-tailed pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) [3] is a pigeon native to the Americas, being the largest pigeon native to North America. They are a native species throughout the Southwestern United States and Mexico, extending down to Peru.

Contents

Taxonomy

Its closest living relatives are the Chilean pigeon and the ring-tailed pigeon, which form a clade of Patagioenas with a terminal tail band and iridescent plumage on their necks. [4] There are at least 8 sub-species, and some authorities split this species into the northern band-tailed pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) [5] and the southern band-tailed pigeon (Patagioenas albilinea). [6] [7]

Use as genetic proxy

The band-tailed pigeon is the closest living relative of the extinct passenger pigeon and has been investigated for being used in efforts to bring back that species. [8] [9]

Distribution and habitat

It ranges from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and southern Arizona south in higher elevations through Mexico and Central America to northern Argentina. In autumn it migrates out of its permanent resident range into northern California, New Mexico, and parts of Utah and Colorado. It is found from almost sea level to 3,600 m (12,000 ft), generally in oak, pine-oak, and coniferous forests. It feeds on seeds, notably acorns, as well as berries and small fruits.

Description

Upper body Columba fasciata -Arizona, USA -upper body-8.jpg
Upper body

It is the largest pigeon in North America, measuring 33 to 40 cm (13 to 16 in) long and weighing 225–515 g (7.9–18.2 oz). [10] [11] The coastal subspecies P. f. monilis (averaging 392 g (13.8 oz)) is larger than the inland subspecies (averaging 340 g (12 oz)). [10] The band-tailed pigeon has a wingspan of 66 cm (26 in). [12]

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.

Behavior and ecology

At a feeder near Pecos, New Mexico Band-tailed Pigeons.jpg
At a feeder near Pecos, New Mexico

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. [13] It also makes a variety of harsh squawking sounds for a variety of reasons.

It builds a rudimentary platform nest out of twigs, in which it lays one or two eggs. Outside the breeding season, it forms flocks, sometimes over 50 birds, and 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. In addition to acorns and other seeds, the band-tailed pigeon will seasonally consume fruits such as Pacific madrona and Toyon berries. [14] This species often visits bird feeders. With the introduction of English holly and English ivy, two popular plants in landscaping in western North America, the bird is found in persistent numbers in suburban areas now as well.

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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbidae</span> Family of birds

Columbidae is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily feed on seeds, fruits, and plants. The family occurs worldwide, but the greatest variety is in the Indomalayan and Australasian realms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock dove</span> Species of bird

The rock dove, rock pigeon, or common pigeon is a member of the bird family Columbidae. In common usage, it is often simply referred to as the "pigeon".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mourning dove</span> North American bird in the family Columbidae

The mourning dove is a member of the dove family, Columbidae. The bird is also known as the American mourning dove, the rain dove, colloquially as the turtle dove, and it was once known as the Carolina pigeon and Carolina turtledove. It is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds and a popular gamebird, with more than 20 million birds shot annually in the U.S., both for sport and meat. Its ability to sustain its population under such pressure is due to its prolific breeding; in warm areas, one pair may raise up to six broods of two young each in a single year. The wings make an unusual whistling sound upon take-off and landing, a form of sonation. The bird is a strong flier, capable of speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mph).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trocaz pigeon</span> Species of bird

The trocaz pigeon, Madeira laurel pigeon or long-toed pigeon is a pigeon which is endemic to the island of Madeira, Portugal. It is a mainly grey bird with a pinkish breast; its silvery neck patch and lack of white wing markings distinguish it from its close relative and probable ancestor, the common wood pigeon. Its call is a characteristic six-note cooing, weaker and lower-pitched than that of the wood pigeon. Despite its bulky, long-tailed appearance, this pigeon has a fast, direct flight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-crowned pigeon</span> Species of bird

The white-crowned pigeon is a fruit and seed-eating species of bird in the dove and pigeon family Columbidae. It is found primarily in the Caribbean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scaled pigeon</span> Species of bird

The scaled pigeon is a large New World tropical dove. It is a resident breeder from southern Mexico south to western Ecuador, southern Brazil, northern Argentina, and Trinidad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pale-vented pigeon</span> Species of bird

The pale-vented pigeon is a large pigeon found in the tropical Americas. Formerly often placed in Columba, it actually belongs to a clade of the older New World genus Patagioenas. With its relatives it represents an evolutionary radiation extending through most of the warm-temperate to tropical Americas. Grey-hued birds, even their males generally lack iridescent display plumage, although the present species has some coppery gloss on the nape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-billed pigeon</span> Species of bird

The red-billed pigeon is a relatively large, robust species of pigeon. Its breeding range extends from southern Texas, United States, to Costa Rica. It is primarily found throughout coastal and lowland areas of Mexico and Central America. It belongs to a clade of Patagioenas which generally lack iridescent display plumage, except some vestiges in the pale-vented pigeon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-headed pigeon</span> Species of bird

The white-headed pigeon is a pigeon native to the east coast of Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-eyed pigeon</span> Species of bird

The yellow-eyed pigeon, pale-backed pigeon, yellow-eyed dove or yellow-eyed stock dove is a member of the family Columbidae. It breeds in southern Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, north-east Iran and extreme north-west China. It winters in north-east Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Rajasthan. The bird has declined in numbers over the years, chiefly because of hunting, and it is listed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

<i>Patagioenas</i> Genus of pigeons

Patagioenas is a genus of New World pigeons whose distinctness from the genus Columba was long disputed but ultimately confirmed. It is basal to the Columba-Streptopelia radiation. Their ancestors diverged from that lineage probably over 8 million years ago. While the biogeographic pattern of this group suggests that the ancestors of the typical pigeons and turtle-doves settled the Old World from the Americas, Patagioenas may just as well be the offspring of Old World pigeons which only radiated into different genera later, given that the cuckoo-doves (Macropygia) of Southeast Asia also seem to be closely related.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemon dove</span> Species of bird

The lemon dove or cinnamon dove is a species of bird in the pigeon family Columbidae found in montane forests of sub-Saharan Africa. The São Tomé lemon dove is usually treated as a subspecies. The lemon dove has a generally brownish-grey plumage with a cinnamon brown breast. Males have a greenish-glossed neck and white markings on the head, and females and juveniles are rather more brown and have grey facial markings. This dove is a common species, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metallic pigeon</span> Species of pigeon

The metallic pigeon, also known as white-throated pigeon is a medium-sized, up to 37 cm long, bird in the family Columbidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scaly-naped pigeon</span> Species of bird

The scaly-naped pigeon, also known as the red-necked pigeon, is a bird belonging to the family Columbidae. The species occurs throughout the Caribbean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black wood pigeon</span> Species of bird

The black wood pigeon or Japanese wood pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in East Asia along shorelines of the Pacific's Korea Strait, Philippine Sea and East China Sea. It is believed to be the largest representative of the genus, Columba, and has a weight of around 550 grams (1.2 lb) and an overall length of 43 cm (17 in). Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. The species is in decline owing to habitat loss, habitat degradation, deforestation and hunting. This wood pigeon is endemic to the laurel forest habitat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chilean pigeon</span> Species of bird

The Chilean pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Chile and Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ring-tailed pigeon</span> Species of bird

The ring-tailed pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to Jamaica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spot-winged pigeon</span> Species of bird

The spot-winged pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maranon pigeon</span> Species of bird

The Maranon pigeon, Peruvian pigeon or Salvin's pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.

Columbicola extinctus, also known as the passenger pigeon chewing louse, is an extant species of phtilopterid louse. It was once believed to have become extinct with its only known host, the passenger pigeon, prior to its rediscovery living on band-tailed pigeons.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Patagioenas fasciata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22725264A94888623. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22725264A94888623.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. "Patagioenas fasciata. NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  3. Sibley, David Allen (2000). The Sibley Guide to Birds . New York: Knopf. p.  260. ISBN   0-679-45122-6.
  4. Johnson, Kevin P.; de Kort, Selvino; Dinwoodey, Karen; Mateman, A.C.; ten Cate, Carel; Lessells, C.M.; Clayton, Dale H. (2001). "A molecular phylogeny of the dove genera Streptopelia and Columba" (PDF). Auk . 118 (4): 874–887. doi:10.2307/4089839. hdl: 20.500.11755/a92515bb-c1c6-4c0e-ae9a-849936c41ca2 .
  5. "Species factsheet: Patagioenas fasciata". BirdLife International. 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  6. "Species factsheet: Patagioenas albilinea". BirdLife International. 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  7. National Geographic. "Band-Tailed Pigeon". National Geographic - Animals - Birds. National Geographic Society. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  8. Rich, Nathaniel (27 February 2014). "The Mammoth Cometh". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  9. "The Great Passenger Pigeon Comeback" . Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  10. 1 2 Dunning Jr., John B., ed. (1992). CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses. CRC Press. ISBN   978-0-8493-4258-5.
  11. "Band-tailed Pigeon". All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
  12. fasciata, Patagioenas; Length: 14.5"; Wingspan: 26" (2018-08-08). "Band-tailed Pigeon". Bird Watcher's Digest. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  13. Mahler, Bettina; Tubaro, Pablo L. (2001). "Relationship between song characters and morphology in New World pigeons". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society . 74 (4): 533–539. doi: 10.1006/bijl.2001.0596 .
  14. Hogan, C. Michael (2008). Stromberg, N. (ed.). "Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)". Global Twitcher. Archived from the original on 2009-07-19.