Description
Lifespan: 18 years and 6 months
They have a white crescent on the rear of the neck and are a light blue-gray colour on top and purplish-gray underneath. The tail’s upper half is grey, while the tip has a thin band of grey colour. Unmarked pale grey wings with black wingtips that are visible in flight. The foot and bill are both yellow.
Origin/ Habitat
From the coast of British Columbia to northern Argentina, the Band-tailed Pigeon breeds in the western parts of the Americas. The Band-tailed Pigeon’s breeding territory in Canada is confined to British Columbia, primarily along the south coast.
Behavior
Band-tailed Pigeons flock in groups of up to 300 birds all year long and are social. Even at large populations, they are not known to fight when feeding; instead, they may chase one another away from nesting locations.
As Pet
Diet
Mostly berries, nuts, and seeds. Seasonal changes in diet. When accessible, acorns play a significant role in the diet. Consumes a variety of berries, such as elderberries, manzanita, juniper, wild grape, and many others. Additionally consumes seeds, delicate young spruce cones, buds, young leaves, flowers, and on sometimes insects.
Nesting
In a loose colony, several pairs may nest close to one another. Males glide in a broad circle while producing a wheezing cry and flapping their wings as they approach the finish of their glide during courtship. Male coos when perched, tail stretched, chest and neck puffed up. Coniferous or deciduous trees typically have nest sites that are 15 to 40 feet above ground, though this might vary. Positioned on the horizontal branch’s bifurcation or at the branch’s base next to the trunk. The nest is a large but shoddily constructed platform made of sticks; the male provides the building materials.
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