The Bird Book/Pigeons

PIGEONS AND DOVES. Order XL COLUMBA

Family COLUMBIDAE

Pigeons and doves are distributed throughout nearly every temperate and

tropical country on the globe, nearly five hundred species being known, of

which twelve occur within our limits. Their plumage is generally soft and

subdued colors, the head small, the wings strong and the flight rapid.

312. BAND-TAILED PIGEON. Columba fasciata fasciata.

Range. The Rocky Mountains and westward to the Pacific, from British

Columbia south to Mtexico.

This large species may be generally recognized

by the white crescent on the nape; it is about 15

inches in length. They nest abundantly on the

mountain ranges, sometimes in large flocks, and

again, only a few pairs together. Their nests are

rude platforms of sticks and twigs either in bushes

or in large trees in heavily wooded districts. The

two eggs which are laid during May or June are

pure white in color, and like those of all the

pigeons, equally rounded at each end. Size

1.55 x 1.10. White

312a. VIOSCA'S PIGEON. Columba fasciata vioscce.

Range. Southern Lower California. This is a paler variety of the preceding

species and is not noticeably different in its habits, nesting or eggs.

313. RED-BILLED PIGEON. Columba flavirostris.

Range. Mexico and Central America, north to southern Texas, Arizona and

New Mexico.

This species, characterized by its red bill, purplish colored head, neck and

breast and absence of iridescent markings, is abundant in the valley of the

Lower Rio Grande, where they build their frail nests in thickets and low bushes, and during May and June lay their white eggs. Size of eggs, 1.55 x 1.05.

314. WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON. Columba leucocephala.

Range. Resident of the West Indies; in summer, found oh the Florida Keys. This species, which can be identified by its white crown, nests in trees or mangroves on certain of the Florida Keys, laying its two white eggs on its rude platform of sticks and twigs. Size of eggs 1.40 x 1.05. Nests in April and May.

[314.1.] SCALED PIGEON. Columba squamosa.

A West Indian species, a single specimen of which was taken at Key West, Florida.

A dark colored species, with purplish head, neck and breast; named from the

scaly appearance of the iridescent feathers on the sides of the neck.

192

PIGEONS

315. PASSENGER PIGEON.

Ectopistes migratorius.

Range. Formerly, North America east of the

Rockies; casually seen in the upper Mississippi Valley, now extinct.

A handsome species (see frontispiece) with

ruddy underparts, grayish upperparts and a

long graduated

tail. This species

years ago found

in flocks of thousands or millions, is now practically exterminated, chiefly by being hunted and trapped. A few pairs probably now nest in the interior, from northern

United States to Hudson Bay. Their nests are

very rude, frail platforms of twigs, on which

two white eggs are laid, they being longer and

narrower, comparatively, than those of other species. Size of eggs, 1.50

Data. Southwest shore of Lake Manitoba, June 1, 1891. Nest of twigs

aspen tree.

White

Passenger Pigeon

xl.02. in an

316. MOURNING DOVE. Zenaidura macroura carolinensis.

Range. North America from New England, Manitoba and British Columbia, southward.

Now that the Passenger Pigeon has

disappeared, this

species becomes the

only one found in

the east, with the exception of the little

Ground Dove in the

South Atlantic and

Gulf States. While, White

sometimes, small flocks of them nest in a community, they generally nest in companies of two or three pairs. Their nests are generally at a low elevation, in trees, bushes and often upon the ground. Their nests are made entirely of twigs and rootlets, and eggs may be found from early in April until the latter part of September, as they often raise two or three broods a season. The two eggs are white. Size 1.15 x .80. Data. Refugio Co., Texas, May 3, 1899. Two eggs laid on the ground in a slight cradle of twigs. Collector, James J. Carroll.

1113

Mourning- Dove

13

THE BIRD BOOK

NEST AND EGGS OF MOURNING DOVE

H. B. Stough

317. ZENAIDA DOVE. Zenaida zenaida.

Range. West Indies; in summer, on the Florida Keys, but not in great numbers.