Band-tailed Pigeon Photo Gallery
Adult (Northern)
Large pigeon with grayish upperparts and purplish gray underparts. White crescent on back of neck and pale tip to tail are distinctive.
© Paul Fenwick | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 09, 2017Juvenile (Northern)
Large pigeon with small head and long tail. Young birds lack the white crescent on the neck and have light scalloping on the back.
© Grace Oliver | Macaulay LibraryWashington, September 24, 2013Adult
Note the white band and iridescent green scaly-looking feathers on the back of the neck.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 13, 2012Not all videos have soundAdult (Northern)
Large pigeon with thick-based, pointed wings. In flight, look for the light band at the end of the tail.
© Bridget Spencer | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, June 29, 2017Juvenile
A relatively quiet pigeon of oak woodlands and evergreen forests.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 13, 2010Not all videos have soundFlock
Travels in large groups of dozens to hundreds of individuals. This video has no audio.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 30, 2012Not all videos have soundAdult (Northern)
Adults have delicate pink-purple underparts, visible at close range. Bill is yellow with a dark tip. Sometimes visits feeders for seeds.
© Paul Fenwick | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 09, 2017Adult
Unobtrusive woodland pigeon that feeds on seeds, fruits, and nuts.
© Larry Arbanas | Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 01, 2006Not all videos have soundAdult (Northern)
Often found in flocks; forages in trees for many kinds of fruits and nuts including berries, acorns, and pine nuts.
© David Poortinga | Macaulay LibraryWashington, May 12, 2017Flock
Forms large flocks of up to 300. Often found in forests, including the wet forests of the Pacific Coast and mountain forests of the southwestern U.S., Mexico, and Central America.
© Don Coons | Macaulay LibraryArizona, June 17, 2017Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Pigeons and Doves(Order: Columbiformes, Family: Columbidae)
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.