Band-tailed Pigeon
Learn to identify the Band-tailed Pigeon by ear. Master the "whoo-whoo, woo...woo, woo" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.
What the Band-tailed Pigeon sounds like
A series of low, owl-like coos delivered slowly from high canopy perches; males give this to advertise territory.
How to tell it apart
Where you'll hear it
Along the Pacific Coast, many birds move south or downslope after breeding, while some southern populations remain year-round. Interior birds also make seasonal and nomadic movements as food supplies change.
Mature conifer, mixed, and oak forests from coastal lowlands to montane slopes; also frequents chaparral edges and rural feeders near woodlands.
Flocks descend to lower elevations in winter and move upslope or northward after breeding; pairs nest from April to early September, often raising two broods.
How to recognize it by sight
The Band-tailed Pigeon is a large, sleek dove of western forests, easily recognized by its soft slate-gray plumage, yellow bill and feet, and the pale band across the tip of its tail that lends the species its name. Unlike urban Rock Pigeons, Band-taileds are mostly shy canopy dwellers that travel in loose flocks to feed on acorns, berries, and seeds.