i 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 

Natural History of

Band-tailed Pigeons

on Eliza Island 

Washington, 1952–1953 

Wayne H. Bohl 

Posthumous Author 

Todd A. Sanders 

and Clait E. Braun 

Final Preparation and 

Editing Authors 

Biological Technical Publication 

BTP-R9001-2020 
ii Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island

Todd A. Sanders, Ph.D. 

Pacifc Flyway Representative 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

Division of Migratory Bird Management 

1211 SE Cardinal Court, Suite 100 

Vancouver, WA 98683-9684 

E-mail: todd_sanders@fws.gov 

Clait E. Braun, Ph.D. 

Grouse Inc. 

5572 North Ventana Vista Road 

Tucson, AZ 85750 

E-mail: sgwtp66@gmail.com 

Cover photograph: 

Band-tailed pigeons 

by Todd A. Sanders © 

Bohl, W.H. (Posthumous Author), T. A. Sanders and C. E. Braun (Final Preparation and Editing Authors). 2020. Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on 

Eliza Island, Washington, 1952–1953. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Biological Technical Publication BTP-R9001-2020, Washington, 

D.C. ISBN: 978-1-938956-11-9 

i Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 
 

Table of Contents 

Preface ....................................................................................................................................................................1 

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 3 

Study Area .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 

Observation Procedures ........................................................................................................................................ 7 

Sight Records and Migration ................................................................................................................................. 8 

Daily Habits ...........................................................................................................................................................10 

Trapping and Marking .......................................................................................................................................... 11 

Prebaiting ......................................................................................................................................................... 11 

Social Behavior ................................................................................................................................................ 11 

Trapping ............................................................................................................................................................ 12 

Marking.............................................................................................................................................................13 

Band Returns ................................................................................................................................................. 14 

Feeding Habits ....................................................................................................................................................... 15 

Molting .................................................................................................................................................................... 18 

Ranges and Nesting Season .................................................................................................................................. 19 

Pacifc Coast..................................................................................................................................................... 19 

Rocky Mountains ............................................................................................................................................ 20 

Mexico .............................................................................................................................................................. 22 

Courtship ................................................................................................................................................................. 24 

Nest Discovery ....................................................................................................................................................... 28 

Breeding Status ...................................................................................................................................................... 31 

Nest Construction .................................................................................................................................................. 33 

Clutch Size............................................................................................................................................................ 39 

Nesting Chronology............................................................................................................................................. 40 

Incubation ............................................................................................................................................................... 41 

Brooding and Growth of Squab ........................................................................................................................... 44 

Nesting Success .................................................................................................................................................... 48 

Summary .............................................................................................................................................................. 49 

Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................................ 50 

Literature Cited ...................................................................................................................................................... 51 

Tables ..................................................................................................................................................................... 53 

Table of Contents ii 
 ivii Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 Todd A. Sanders © 
Name of Section 1 

Preface 

Wayne H. Bohl was born on 13 November 1925 

and died on 25 August 1995 at 69 years of age at 

his home on Lummi Island, Whatcom County, 

Washington. Wayne completed graduate work 

(Bohl, W. H. 1955. Survival of juvenile ring-necked 

pheasants on Eliza Island, Washington during 1952. 

Thesis. Oregon State College, Corvallis, USA) in 

the Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at Oregon 

State University and then studied band-tailed 

pigeons during 1952–1953. He subsequently worked 

for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, 

and was a Wildlife Research Biologist in the Foreign 

Game Bird Investigation Program of the U.S. 

Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, 

with much of his feld work outside of the United 

States. His last duty station was at Logan, Utah. 

The Foreign Game Bird Investigation Program was 

discontinued in May 1972 and Wayne eventually 

transferred to the Endangered Species Program of 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Washington, 

D.C. Wayne published numerous booklets and 

reports on a variety of mostly non-native to North 

America game birds including “A study of the 

introduction, release, and survival of Asiatic game 

birds (1957),” “Chukars in New Mexico 1931–1957,” 

“A study and review of the Japanese Green and 

the Korean ring-necked pheasants (1964),” and “A 

study of the crested tinamou of Argentina (1970).” 

He teamed with Gardiner Bump (red junglefowl 

and Kaliji pheasants [1961]) to study game birds 

across the globe to identify species with potential 

for release into the United States for the purpose of 

increasing sport hunting opportunities. 

Wayne Bohl initiated a project to develop a book 

on band-tailed pigeons based on his feld studies 

on Eliza Island, Washington and review of the 

literature available at that time. He prepared an 

outline and developed the text. This was a work in 

progress over many years and Wayne enlisted many 

others to help him with his book project. Clait E. 

Braun (CEB) was contacted by Wayne (letter of 12 

February 1970 and subsequent letters) to help with 

the project. This role expanded as other potential 

contributors dropped out and Wayne’s priorities 

changed. Bohl provided a copy of his original 

manuscript, which CEB retained but without the 

intended photographs. A phone call from Bohl on 13 

August 1975 ended with the comment from Wayne 

that “the book was up to me” (CEB). Many other 

priorities interfered with bringing Bohl’s original 

work into print. 

This manuscript is Bohl’s original work provided 

to CEB in February 1970. Norma Bohl and 

Laurie Ulrich, Wayne Bohl’s wife and daughter, 

respectively, provided Wayne’s original photographs 

to Todd A. Sanders (TAS) on 19 June 2015. We 

resurrected the manuscript with only modest 

changes in wording and style in preparation for 

publication. Our intent was to present Bohl’s work 

as a refection of the state of the knowledge about 

band-tailed pigeons in the 1950s. Those wanting 

a summation of more current information on the 

life history of band-tailed pigeons should refer to 

Keppie and Braun (2000) and Jarvis and Passmore 

(1992). 

Wayne’s work is a signifcant contribution to bandtailed pigeon life history and information. Wayne 

was among few independent researchers working 

to understand the life history and management of 

band-tailed pigeons in the late 1940s and early 1950s 

in response to increased hunting pressure being 

exerted on this species and the need for proper 

management. These early principal researchers 

included Johnson A. Neff, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, working across the western United States 

(Neff 1947); Fred A. Glover, University professor, 

working in northwestern California (Glover 1953); 

Wallace G. MacGregor and Walton M. Smith, 

California Department of Fish and Wildlife, working 

in west central California (MacGregor and Smith 

1955); and Wayne H. Bohl, Oregon Cooperative 

Wildlife Research Unit, working in northwestern 

Washington. Wayne’s work is a comprehensive 

band-tailed pigeon natural history account over two 

years of extensive observations. Specifcally, Wayne 

provides detailed information about pigeon nest site 

characteristics from 136 located nests (active and 

non-active) and nesting chronology and behavior 

from repeated observations of 57 active nests. 

To this day, few have been successful in locating 

nests and observing band-tailed pigeons while 

nesting. Wayne’s observational conclusions are still 

important in our knowledge of the ecology of bandtailed pigeons, and have largely been confrmed via 

scientifc investigations since the 1950s. Wayne’s 

appreciation and love for band-tailed pigeons is 

evident in his work and writing. Wayne’s review 

of the literature is generally presented as quoted 

material, and we have set this quoted material in 

indented blocks so that readers can easily skip over 

this information if they so choose. 

Preface 1 
2 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

Interestingly, Wayne’s career largely focused on 

game birds across the globe to identify species with 

potential for the purpose of increasing sport hunting 

opportunities, yet Wayne never mentioned the hunting of pigeons in his investigations. Also, despite 

the now well documented use of sodium water by 

the Pacifc Coast population of band-tailed pigeons, 

abundant sodium water available at the lagoon and 

marsh on Eliza Island and surrounding islands, 

and the spectacle these birds make gathering and 

descending to drink, Wayne does not mention observations of pigeons using sodium water. However, 

he did have pictures of the well-known Pigeon Point 

tidal mineral site (at Rock Point on the Washington 

mainland) 6.9 miles (11.0 km) southeast of Eliza 

Island that is used by pigeons to this day. Two other 

mineral sites (Lake Cavenaugh Road and Sumas 

natural springs) known to be used by pigeons (for 

at least 50 years) closest to Eliza Island are both 26 

miles (42 km) away on the mainland. Those wanting more information on band-tailed pigeons use of 

sodium water should refer to Sanders and Jarvis 

(2000) and Sanders and Koch (2018). 
Name of Section 

 

 3

Introduction 

There was little scientifc information available on 

band-tailed pigeons (Columba [now Patagioenas] 

fasciata; casually referred to as bandtails) in the early 1950s when this study was conceived. At that time, 

there was increased hunting pressure being exerted 

on this species and a general lack of knowledge of its 

life history, which did not allow proper management. 

Thus, authorization was obtained from the Oregon 

Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit1 to conduct a 

band-tailed pigeon research program on Eliza Island, 

Washington, during 1952 and 1953. The 1952 bandtail study on the island was sponsored by the Cooperative Unit, and in 1953 the Wildlife Management 

Institute made available a $375 special grant for the 

research program allowing it to continue under the 

direction of the Cooperative Unit. 

The primary objective of the life history study was 

to examine the possibility of the bandtail bringing off 

more than one brood in one year. During the course 

of the studies, 57 active nests were located in the forests of Eliza Island and nearby Lummi and Vendovi 

islands. Of these nests, 50 were found on Eliza Island 

where the life history observations were centered 

(Figures 1–3). The entire nesting season was plotted 

for both years. Specifc habits of courtship, nesting, 

feeding, drinking, roosting, predation, and migration 

were among the many items recorded. 

1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Management Institute, Oregon and Washington State Game Commissions, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station and Agricultural Research Foundation, Cooperators. 

Intrroduction 3 
4 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

Study Area 

Eliza Island, located eight miles (12.9 km) southwest 

of Bellingham, Washington (48.650° N, 122.582° W, 

Figures 1–3), had been used primarily for conducting research on the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). The nearest land to Eliza Island is 

Lummi Island, about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) to the west. 

Eliza Island is about 141.2 acres (57.1 hectares) in 

size and is shaped like a crude capital letter “T.” 

The longitudinal landmass, closely paralleling the 

compass points, stretches one mile (1.6 km) and is 

a rather steep-sided strip of forested land, rising to 

a height of 60 feet (18 m) in one section. It contains 

conifers and deciduous trees, mainly, with Douglas-fr 

(Pseudotsuga taxifolia) and grand fr (Abies grandis) the dominant evergreen trees. The east-west 

axis is about one-half mile (0.8 km) in distance; only 

the eastern edge and the tip are wooded. Between 

these two forests is a low area called the central fat, 

which comprises the principal non-forested area 

of the island. It is composed of grasses, cultivated 

felds, and two water areas, a brackish lagoon and a 

rain-flled marsh. Average yearly rainfall is normally 

< 25 inches (< 32 cm) for this coastal area. Summer 

temperatures average 61°F (16 °C) and winters average 45 °F (7 °C). 

When a small island, such as Eliza Island, has a 

sizeable band-tailed pigeon nesting concentration as 

noted in the two-year study, it readily can be seen 

how proftably it may serve in obtaining information 

on such a secretive bird. 
Name of Section 5

Figure 1. Study area, showing forested areas, band-tailed pigeon nest locations, pigeon fight patterns, and 

the observation tower, on Eliza Island, Washington, 1952–1953. 

Study Area 5 
6 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

Figure 2. Eliza Island, Washington with the mainland in the background as seen from nearby Lummi Island 

about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) northwest of Eliza Island during the band-tailed pigeon study on Eliza Island, 1952– 

1953. Eliza Island is about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) due east from Lummi Island and about 4.0 miles (6.4 km) due 

west of the mainland. 

Figure 3. Researcher’s house (guest cabin), showing surrounding trees used by pigeons for roosting and 

nesting, during the band-tailed pigeon study on Eliza Island, Washington, 1952–1953. The cabin was located at 

the base of the heavily forested ridge on the eastern side of Eliza Island about center from north to south and 

across the open feld from the lagoon (see Figures 1 and 2). 
Name of Section 7

 

Observation Procedures 

The frst concerted bandtail research study on Eliza 

Island was in 1952, and more birds and nests were recorded than in the island’s bird-sight fles from 1947 

through 1951. The possibility existed in 1952 that the 

pigeon population was larger than usual. However, 

even greater number of birds and nests were located 

in 1953 than in 1952. There were more reports in 

1953 although it is possible the observer became 

more acutely aware of pigeon habits and learned to 

observe their secretive fights and actions that led to 

discovery of more nests than normally would have 

been the case. 

Initial feld observations were made from outside 

the forest; the major portion being made from an elevated barn tower approximately 25 feet (7.6 m) high 

from which approximately 90% of the pigeon nesting and feeding areas were visible (Figure 1). This 

tower was on the central fat about 250 yards (229 m) 

from the nearest forested area. The elevation proved 

advantageous in allowing the observer to observe the 

pigeons’ fights to the general area of their nest sites 

as they darted among the tree tops. 

A second observation point was on the central fat 

where a 30-foot (9.1 m) ladder was elevated as a lookout platform. This station had value in ascertaining 

whether pigeons were going into the general areas 

of the north, central, or south woods. Often a rarely 

observed or devious approach to the island through 

the forests could delay for a week or more the fnding of a suspected nest site. The mile-long (1.6 km) 

length of forest was separated into thirds in 1953 

by cutting two cleared lanes across its width. Since 

many pigeons coming from nearby Lummi Island 

or the mainland dropped in among the tree tops or 

on the far side of the forest from the observer, these 

open lanes aided in ascertaining if pigeons had landed 

in a certain forest section. A continued fight would 

be clearly shown when the bandtails crossed either of 

these cleared lanes. 

Many observations were made from the highest fr 

tops, some over 100 feet (30.5 m) tall, in or around pigeon nesting areas. The bandtails, in most cases, did 

not seem to react adversely toward the observer’s 

presence. They were much more antagonistic toward 

pigeons other than their nesting partner in their own 

territory. 

Other observational procedures included watching 

trapping operations or nesting intimacies from blinds 

and lying motionless on the forest foor. Although 

taxing on nerves, the latter method resulted in interesting observations concerning the wary bandtails. 

Nesting American robins (Turdus migratorius) continually harassed the observer during observations 

from the forest interior. 

Systematic nest searches from the forest foor were 

made two or three times monthly. This method was 

a form of “gridding” where the observer scrutinized 

the tree branches while slowly walking through the 

forest in prescribed patterns. 

Observation Procedures 7 
8 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

Sight Records and Migration 

Bandtails arriving at Eliza Island in spring 1952 were 

frst recorded on 9 April. One was seen on 28 March 

1953 and four were recorded on 2 April. Previous 

island records by graduate students list bandtails on 

nearby Lummi Island on 25 March 1951 (W. Q. Wick, 

H. D. Hartwell), two on Eliza Island on 27 March 

1950 (C. G. Hansen), and one on 1 April 1949 on Eliza 

Island (R. R. Hoffman). Neff (1947) lists 9 April 

as the earliest observed appearance in the State of 

Washington. 

Plant phenology records for 1952 and 1953 indicate 

that besides waste grain from felds, the buds and 

fowers of Pacifc madrone (Arbutus menziesii) and 

manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) and leaf buds and 

catkins of Douglas-fr and lowland white fr (Abies concolor) were available and eaten by the frst 

bandtails migrating north in late March or early 

April. Normally it is after 10 April that the frst 

large groups of pigeons start arriving or passing over 

the island. The early presence of bandtails from the 

south seems to be governed by the availability of wild 

foods. Southeast storms are normally present as the 

frst pigeons make their appearance, but apparently 

they do not restrict the bandtails from moving into 

the area. The breeding urge undoubtedly is a large 

factor in bringing some of these adventuresome birds 

north in early April each year. The Puget Sound 

birds, and those of southern British Columbia, must 

leave quite early in the year to travel from California 

to their northern breeding areas. 

Sight records for the two years of the study showed 

increasing pigeon numbers in April and early May 

with a tapering off by the end of May (Table 1). 

Grain used as trapping bait attracted more than the 

usual pigeon numbers to Eliza Island in late May and 

June; therefore it was diffcult to ascertain that birds 

were still moving north at these periods. 

During June, July, and most of August, the island’s 

bandtail population remained somewhat stable with 

mainly the nesting birds occupying the area. As soon 

as baiting stopped in June, this rather fxed population was apparent as nesting birds left the island 

daily for food and water. The pigeons’ main summer 

food was scarce on Eliza. Consequently birds could 

be counted rather easily as they left for feeding and 

returned for nest changes or squab feedings. The 

water of the bay provided a clear line of demarcation, 

which facilitated the counting of pigeons. 

First signs of the bandtail’s southward migration 

during 1952 were noted on 24 August on Eliza Island. 

A ‘southeaster’ storm had started on this day and 

the frst large fall fock, 65 bandtails, was observed 

fying in a steppingstone fashion from Lummi Island 

to Eliza Island, and then southward. The following 

day, with the ‘southeaster’ continuing, more focks 

followed this same pattern southward. Arthur S. 

Einarsen, arriving at the island on 26 August, reaffrmed the starting of the 1952 southern migration by 

citing observations made in Cowlitz County, along the 

Columbia River. He reported seeing several hundred 

birds funneling together, the normal fall procedure as 

bandtails move southward. 

The 1953 fall migration was not as apparent at Eliza 

Island as the previous year. Mild summer weather 

in the Puget Sound area apparently tended to hold 

the birds longer. Food was plentiful as it is in most 

years at the start of southern migration. An estimated 2,000 or more pigeons were reported a few 

miles (km) east of Eliza Island on the mainland 

(Wickersham Mountain) feeding on red elderberries (Sambucus racemosa) on 30 August. The large 

crop of huckleberries (Vaccinium spp.) present was 

not used to any noticeable extent. A week later, this 

group was absent from the general area, presumably 

moving south. On Eliza Island, by 20 August, a buildup of pigeons into larger focks became noticeable, 

and from all indications more birds would have been 

seen moving south at this time had stormy weather 

occurred. The 1953 study ended on 1 September, 

and no further observations were made from Eliza 

Island. However, the author remained in the Puget 

Sound area until 15 September, and casual observations showed that the pigeons’ numbers were 

decreasing daily. Records indicate the southward 

migration was primarily completed by 15 September 

in 1952 and 1953, both on Eliza Island and nearby in 

the Puget Sound areas. The last birds seen on Eliza 

Island in 1951 were two on 25 October, both feeding 

on ripened madrone berries; four were observed in 

October 1952; there was no report for 1953. Neff 

(1947) cites 29 October as the latest fall record for the 

State of Washington. 

Neff (1947) further notes more unusual sight records: 

“An Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count in the 

Puget Sound area in 1935 tallied 30 pigeons”, and W. 

R. Ransom, in a letter of 15 April 1939, reported that 

“Small bunches quite regularly winter around Medina and Bellevue, Washington, along the east side of 

Lake Washington.” 
 

 

9

W. R. Ransom, in a letter from Glen Carter concerning the coast of Washington, summarized his 1953 

pigeon observations during fall migration: 

All through late June and July, pigeons were 

seen abundantly in groups of two or three, 

sometimes single birds, all the way from the 

mouth of the Columbia River northward to the 

Strait of Juan de Fuca, on the seaward slope 

of the Coast Range mountains. About the frst 

week in August, the frst fall rainstorm swept in 

from the sea. Almost immediately afterward, 

pigeons were observed grouping together in 

various sized groups, usually under 20 birds 

each, and moving southward. Additional storms 

dropped over two inches (> 5 cm) of rain 

throughout August, and by late in the month a 

defnite scarcity of pigeons was noticed on the 

entire coast where they were so readily seen 

only one month previous. 

Although Glen Carter (letter to W. R. Ransom) indicates the migration started soon after the frst storm 

in early August, the area north and east of the Straits 

of Juan de Fuca during 1953 had only mild weather 

during August and early September. Stormy 

weather along the coast infuenced the bandtails to 

move south almost immediately in early August. 

Food may be abundant during the time that storms 

occur; nevertheless, the pigeons migrate. Some 

hardy individuals hanging on until late October are 

the exceptions to the storm factor. Pigeons in both 

1952 and 1953 nested on Eliza Island into September; 

these nesting birds may be some of the late migrators. Weather apparently is the strongest factor in 

starting the birds south. This belief is also evident in 

other writers’ observations. 

Summarizing the Eliza Island spring and fall migration records, the bandtails were seen the earliest on 

25 March 1951, and normally continued movements 

northward until late May. In the fall migration, by 

mid-August birds were moving south and the bulk 

were usually gone from the Puget Sound area by 20 

September each year. Bandtails recorded latest in 

the fall were two on 25 October 1951 on Eliza Island. 

Sight Records and Migrations Name of Section 9
10 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

Daily Habits 

Bandtails that were not nesting could be seen on 

perch or could be heard cooing from within the forest approximately 30 to 45 minutes before sunrise. 

Within 30 minutes after the sun had risen most had 

fown to feeding areas. This frst early morning 

sporadic feeding on madrone buds or fowers usually 

lasted an hour. These same birds would then rest in 

nearby trees and could be found feeding at almost 

any time during the daylight hours. This particular 

madrone feeding lasted from mid-April until the latter part of May. Ardent cooing and territorial fights 

were intermixed with this routine quite often. 

Nesting duties comprised the daily routine for bandtails during late May, June, July, and August. Movements south were well underway by late August even 

though some pairs were nesting even into September. 

Roosting often began 45 minutes to an hour or more 

before sundown in early summer. Bandtails, of all 

the island bird life, were among the earliest to begin 

roosting. Those pigeons with nests followed much 

different patterns. After nesting began, with consequent lessened feeding time, pigeons were often 

going to roost at sundown or later. Before breakup 

of focks in spring for nesting, roosting was often in 

pairs with perhaps several pairs roosting in the same 

tree or small area. During nest building, incubation, 

brooding, and feeding the squab, the pairs usually 

kept to themselves at roosting time. 

The following observations, noted on 3 May 1953, 

were typical of the pre-nesting bandtail’s roosting 

habits. After pigeon droppings were found on the 

forest foor of the southern point of Eliza Island, a 

visit was made at 5:30 PM to this spot to ascertain 

the time and sequence of roosting. While I was lying 

on my back some 20 yards (18 m) from the roost, two 

bandtails dived into the dense forest area at 6:10 PM 

and landed in a nearby western red cedar (Thuja 

plicata). This red cedar was over-shadowed by taller 

grand and Douglas-fr trees and was some 150 yards 

(137 m) inside the forest edge. 

One of the bandtails immediately settled down on 

a limb with its body low to the bough. Its head was 

pulled down low into its breast feathers. The second 

pigeon worked its way out to the denser tip of the 

branch and looked over the area with a cocking head 

motion. It then settled down and faced toward the 

north, or closest forest edge. The birds were approximately 25 feet (7.6 m) up in the red cedar, and at no 

time did they appear to see me lying nearby on the 

forest foor. At 6:40 PM two more bandtails futtered 

noisily into the same red cedar. The two pigeons on 

roost paid little attention as the newly arrived birds 

settled down at a higher elevation. The roosting of 

the two pairs took place one hour and 13 minutes, and 

43 minutes before sunset, respectively. 

An example of a nesting pair’s roosting habits can 

be shown by an observation on 9 August 1953. At 

7:42 PM the female fed her squab on the nest, amid 

very low cooing of her mate nearby, and left at 7:46 

PM. The female few east about 50 yards (46 m) was 

joined by the male, and after some futtering among 

grand fr branches they settled down six to eight feet 

(1.8–2.4 m) out on a dense bough about 35 feet (11 m) 

high. 

Another nesting female normally could be found on a 

high perch about 75 yards (69 m) from her nest each 

evening prior to roosting. Knowing approximately 

where she had been roosting by herself, I laid down 

on the forest foor in this general area. At 7:05 PM 

a futter of wings was heard in the fr branches some 

60 feet (18 m) above me as the female dropped off 

her perch into the branches of a nearby Douglas-fr. 

Another futter of wings occurred at 7:23 PM as the 

female dropped down a couple of limbs, then walked 

out approximately fve feet (1.5 m) from the trunk 

to settle down on a fr bough. Sunset was 7:15 PM. 

Walking underneath this roost tree, I could see the 

bandtail facing toward an opening in the boughs 

about two feet (0.6 m) away. She never moved, as far 

as I could determine, as I walked around beneath her. 

The drab coloration of the bandtail in dark roosting 

tree areas plus its habit of closely hugging the branch 

and exhibiting little movement would preclude much 

chance of predation by birds of prey during roosting 

hours. 
 

 

11

Trapping and Marking 

Prebaiting 

Grain was placed in Eliza Island felds in late April 

through June to attract bandtails to trapping areas, 

and pigeons from nearby islands and the mainland 

soon discovered the baited site (Figure 4). Instead of 

the 10 to 15 adults using the island daily prior to baiting, the number often increased to 100 to 200 within a 

few days after grain was put out. Bandtails are quick 

to note fights of pigeons going to and from new feeding areas. New birds quickly join the fights and are 

thus able to funnel into new feeding grounds such as 

the heavy baiting with grain on Eliza Island. 

Wild foods and domestic grains in planted felds are 

limited when the frst pigeons arrive in the Puget 

Sound area in early April. The modern-day farmer 

has taken more to drilling in his grains rather than 

hand broadcasting; therefore, pigeons fnd less waste 

grains in the felds. They do not dig for food in the 

ground and are limited to surface grain only. 

Prebaiting, that is, liberal spreading of the grain 

long before the trap is frst sprung, was very effective between 15 April and 15 May 1953 (Figure 4). If 

the same baiting timetable was used simultaneously 

elsewhere in the state, pigeons might be concentrated enough to obtain a fairly accurate pre-breeding 

population count in a 3- to 4-day count period. Wherever spring-plowed or fallow felds are found at this 

time of year, bandtails search diligently for food and 

quickly move on if none is found. Pigeons appear to 

indicate by their feeding fights that food is available, 

and bandtails for miles (kilometers) might be concentrated for a short counting period soon after their 

main arrival from the south. 

In 1953, considerably more pigeons were present 

daily on Eliza Island due to very early prebaiting. 

Plentiful use of grain is essential to good trapping 

results and a suffcient prebaiting period to win the 

confdence of the birds (Figure 4). Wheat was the 

preferred grain taken by pigeons, although oats, 

barley, and corn were taken as second choices. Many 

songbirds, numbering 50 to 75 per day, ate the bait 

grain to gluttonous extent over a month’s trapping 

period. On several occasions, a cock pheasant, which 

had set up the baited area as his territory, would 

enter the trap for the grain. Occasionally he would 

frighten the sensitive bandtails from the trap either 

by a violent crowing demonstration or by dashing at 

the pigeons. With plenty of grain for all, the situations created by the pheasant were decidedly more 

comical than serious. 

Social Behavior 

One of the large trees used by the bandtails for resting near the baited area on Eliza Island was a red 

cedar. The birds arriving early in the morning hours 

would perch on its branches from the top to almost 

the bottom if large numbers of 100 or more were 

present. As the morning sun in the east hit this tall 

red cedar it was like a large Christmas tree with its 

many blue ornaments—the pigeons. Watching this 

scene re-enacted many times left one with a great 

appreciation for nature’s ability to create stirring 

pictures. 

A late-arriving bird, probably from a nest change, 

would often try to land on an uppermost branch already full of pigeons and would be struck and pecked 

at all the way down the tree until it found room for 

itself. The scene was touched with humor since it 

appeared the late arrival just couldn’t do anything 

right. Although belligerent at times, bandtails 

seldom harm one another, and usually bluff for the 

most part. It was not uncommon for several amorous 

males to be cooing, displaying in the air and in the 

tree, and to attempt copulation with any female that 

appeared receptive. 

Trapping and Marking Name of Section 11
12 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

Figure 4. Prebaiting with mixed grains preparatory to trapping of band-tailed pigeons on Eliza Island, 

Washington, 1952–1953. The frame-style drop trap was placed in position and ample grain was distributed 

in order to win the pigeons’ confdence prior to trapping when a net is spread across and attached to the 

frame. The picture is from the western point of Eliza Island, looking west toward Lummi Island. 

Trapping 

Trapping in the feld was accomplished by use of a 

frame-style drop trap eight feet (2.4 m) deep and 

18 feet (5.5 m) wide (Figure 4). The front elevated 

portion of the frame was six feet (1.8 m) high and was 

supported by a single brace, which enabled dropping 

of the trap from a blind at a considerable distance. 

A rope attached at the base of the single brace ran 

to the blind approximately 75 feet (22.9 m) away. A 

board was angled under the brace to allow easy tripping of the trap. A net of 1-inch (2.54 cm) mesh was 

used, which caused the net to sag in several places 

due to its overall weight. A lighter cord 1- to 2-inch 

(2.5 to 5.1 cm) mesh net would have been preferable. 

A piece of wire was attached to each of the leading 

corners of the elevated trap and anchored to the 

ground to steady the trap during windy periods. A 

second blind for photography was built about 30 feet 

(9 m) from the trap. It was built in teepee style and 

the covering was darkened so that pigeons could not 

see the observer’s silhouette. 

Whenever possible, a second person accompanied the 

author to the blind. As the bandtails fushed from 

nearby trees, one observer dropped into the blind 

while the second, acting as the decoy, continued away 

from the trap area. The pigeons would soon return to 

trees above the trap, apparently unsuspecting of the 

observer in the blind. Often within a few minutes, or 

not more than an hour, the birds were again feeding 

on the bait, allowing the trap to be sprung. 

An experiment to examine the refex actions of 

pigeons was made in which one observer pulled 

the trap brace and the second observer noted the 

frst movement of pigeons inside the trap. When 

the brace was pulled, the front edge of the trap fell 

six feet (1.8 m) to the ground before any of the 41 

bandtails inside made a visible move to escape. They 

remained motionless until the trap frame hit the 

ground, and then futtered around attempting to 

escape, helpless, once under the net, as indicated by 

their feeble futtering. 

The observer crawled under one edge of the trap 

frame after the trap had been sprung, and immediately placed all pigeons in well-ventilated burlap 

sacks. These sacks restricted movement and the 

birds quickly became quiet in this semi-dark situation. When all were gathered, the trap frame was 

raised and the birds were taken from the sacks individually to be banded and released. 
 

 

 

13

It was found advisable to avoid frightening away 

those pigeons that had not been trapped, to rebait 

heavily after dropping the trap, and to refrain from 

trapping at least a day or more. The pigeons usually 

regained their confdence in this period. Waiting longer periods between trappings is even more desirable. 

It is also important after the banding of birds to pick 

up all the feathers that the birds lost in their movements to escape the trap or observer. Other pigeons 

will avoid the baited area if these feathers are not 

removed. Apparently bandtails associate danger with 

scattered feathers. This conclusion was made, also, in 

connection with trapping the now extinct passenger 

pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius). On resetting their 

nets, trappers had to remove every feather before 

pigeons would again alight (Schorger 1955:21). 

The main reason for the many scattered feathers 

of band-tailed pigeons at the trap is that a certain 

degree of fright will cause them to be easily detached 

or loosened from the bird’s body. This trait of feather 

detachment is peculiar to some pigeons and doves and 

to certain gallinaceous birds. 

Windy weather makes trapping diffcult since pigeons 

are then very fighty. Cooper’s hawks (Accipiter 

cooperii) in the neighborhood also keep pigeons in a 

keyed-up state. This species of hawk would repeatedly fush the fock of pigeons waiting in trees near 

the baited trap. No pigeon was ever observed to be 

caught by this hawk at the baited area during the 

studies, and the pigeons would normally return to the 

rest tree in a short time after having been fushed by 

the hawk. 

An excellent article, “A trapping technique for bandtailed pigeons” by William A. Wooten of the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service, has been published in the Journal of Wildlife Management (July 1955, Vol. 19, No. 3). 

Use of the frame-style drop trap, similar to the one 

used on Eliza Island, is the basis for his article. Wooten’s drop trap used in Oregon in 1953 enabled the 

capture of 212 pigeons in one drop. His trap frame 

measured 16 feet (4.9 m) square, had one and one-half 

inch (3.81 cm) mesh net covering with the frame made 

of two by four-inch (5.1 x 10.2 cm) lumber. A sevenfoot (2.1 m) pole was used to elevate the front edge of 

the trap with a wire run to a sunken pit blind approximately 100 to 150 feet (30–46 m) from the trap. 

Wooten (1955) reports 852 birds were trapped and 

banded during 1953 by the frame-style drop trap 

method in northern California, Oregon, and Washington. An intensifed banding program had been 

initiated in 1952 by federal and state wildlife agencies in these three states. At this time the migration 

habits of the pigeons were little known; the limited 

information available was based on only a few banding returns. 

Traps other than the drop trap have been used with 

varying degrees of success on bandtails. The use of 

cloverleaf and funnel-entrance traps does not allow 

too many bandtails to enter the trap as one or more 

pigeons feeding in the small entrance prevent others 

from entering. Small numbers only are caught by 

these types of traps (Neff and Culbreath 1947:22). 

One of the most encouraging traps to be used in the 

past few years is the highly mobile and versatile 

cannon-net trap. The California Department of Fish 

and Game was the frst to successfully use this trap 

on wild band-tailed pigeons. Following pre-baiting 

pigeons into an area, the cannon trap can be set up in 

30 to 45 minutes with practice. 

Basically, the net used may be 1- or 2-inch (2.5 or 5.1 

cm) mesh, nylon or cotton, measuring 50 by 25 or 

40 feet (15 x 7.6 or 12 m). The leading edge of the 

net is attached to ropes which are fastened to two 

fve-pound (2.3 kg) projectiles. The projectiles are 

shot from cannons, which then carry the net over 

the baited area and the birds. The cannons can be 

detonated from a blind by use of a pull lanyard or a 

“hotshot” battery charge through electrical squibs 

tied into the shotgun shell charges. Experiments are 

being made with other methods of detonation. 

Marking 

Leg bands were attached to 167 feld-trapped bandtails, and various wing or tail color marks were applied to aid in identifying adults at a particular nest. 

In this manner it was hoped a check could be made 

on the possibility of a second brood being raised by a 

particular marked pair. The trap days in 1952 were 

2, 9, and 13 June when 19 adults were trapped and 

banded. No pigeons were trapped twice during this 

year. Of the four trapping dates in 1953, 9 and 29 

May and 3 and 5 June, there were six repeats in the 

second trapping, none in the third, and seven in the 

fourth. This amounted to 22 repeats of 148 adults 

banded that year. No pigeon was ever caught more 

than twice. 

Testors yellow model airplane paint, as used successfully by Swank (1952) in his work on trapping and 

marking mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in 

Texas, was found to be satisfactory for feld-marking 

band-tailed pigeons. The yellow offered good contrast, and the paint dried rapidly on the feathers as 

the acetone was exposed to the air. Yellow bars were 

painted on wings or tails to identify individual birds 

on the nest. 

A nest trap, modifed from Swank’s design, was used 

in several cases, but lack of time and early desertions 

of nests, primarily due to hawk predation of squabs, 

prevented trapping of many adults to mark them for 

second brood studies. Only four of the adults banded 

and marked in the feld were observed later during 

the summer. One of these adults was observed at one 

of the 30 Eliza nests found in 1953. There was limited marking success, and no pairs of bandtails were 

found to have nested twice during the year. 

Trapping and Marking Name of Section 13
14 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

Band Returns 

Of the 195 bandtails banded on Eliza Island during 1952–1953, 22 returns (return = recapture 

or recovery) have been made through 1957 (all in 

Washington, Oregon, and California), an 11% return 

rate (28 of 167 banded as an adult and 3 of 19 banded 

as a juvenile) (Table 2). Sixteen of the returns were a 

result of being shot by a hunter (8% hunter recovery 

rate over about a 5 year span post banding). 

Neff (1947) states that in the United States: 

Up to 1 May 1940, only 185 band-tailed pigeons 

had been banded, and only 5 return records 

were in the fles of the Fish and Wildlife 

Service. Three of these were of birds that 

had been banded by Ferris at Beaver, Oregon 

late in May 1932. One was shot at China 

Camp (Calaboose Canyon), Monterey County, 

California in December 1932; another in the 

“Monterey Hills” on 10 December 1933; and 

the third, 15 miles east of Gonzales, Monterey 

County, on the same date. A pigeon banded at 

Carmel, California in July 1937 was shot on 14 

December 1937, near Atascadero, California, 

and one banded at the State Game Farm, at 

Chino, California, in June 1937 was found dead 

near Cucamonga, California, during the same 

month. 

Two of the most gratifying returns from the Eliza 

Island studies were two adult bandtails banded on 

9 June 1952 (Table 2). These two birds were recaptured on Eliza Island in the same feld in 1953, one 

on 9 May and one on 29 May, almost a full year from 

the initial trapping date. In all probability, these two 

adults wintered in California and came back to Eliza 

Island the following spring in their northward migration. Considering a round trip to the San Francisco 

area or to the southern California border, these birds 

would have traveled distances of about 1,500 (2,424 

km) to possibly more than 2,200 direct miles (3,540 

km). Seven adults banded on Eliza Island have 

been taken by hunters in California, mainly in Santa 

Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. That bandtails will fy from somewhere in central California in 

the early spring to Puget Sound to breed, and then 

return in the fall to winter in California, adds more 

plaudits to their record as hardy game birds. The 

aesthetic appreciation for this type of migrational 

habit cannot be underestimated. 

One band recovery was from Oregon, and other 

recoveries were from Washington. The Oregon recovery represented a squab banded on 29 July 1952; 

it was taken during the September 1955 hunting season. Of the 28 squabs banded, this is the only band to 

date to be returned as a result of being shot. 

Only through banding can the mysteries of migration 

routes, breeding, and wintering areas be detected. A 

more intensive banding program has been in place 

the past few years on the west coast and is bound to 

turn up much desired migrational and longevity records that will help to better manage bandtails. The 

bandtails banded through 1 January 1957, as indicated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Patuxent Wildlife 

Research Laboratory, total 3,218 (1950–1956). 
 

 

 

 

15

Feeding Habits 

Annual band-tailed pigeon distribution is infuenced 

by availability of wild foods. The intermittent seasonal 

productivity of foods preferred by bandtails results in 

their wandering erratically in their search for available 

food. Plants may bear abundant crops one year, but 

may be succeeded by poor production in the following years. Thus, pigeons search out successful crops, 

which may make their annual movements highly 

unpredictable. 

Bandtails seemingly are quick to locate new feeding 

areas by following feeding fights of other pigeons. 

Pigeons on Eliza Island normally rendezvoused with 

others before leaving for feeding areas, and other birds 

would join the fights from nearby land areas. 

The bandtail’s food consists primarily of acorns, pine 

nuts, various types of wild berries, fruits, buds, fowers, and catkins of shrubs and trees. Domestic fruits, 

grains, and peas also are taken, particularly when wild 

foods are scarce. This occurs especially in California 

where most pigeons of the Pacifc Coast winter. 

The frst small numbers of pigeons involved in migration movements northward each spring for breeding 

purposes must search for either wild or domestic 

foods. During March and April of each year, the frst 

birds usually are arriving at the northern end of the 

migration routes, Washington, British Columbia, Utah, 

and Colorado. As the birds enter the summer nesting 

season, wild fruits become increasingly available, and 

into autumn there are more varieties of fruits and berries plus acorns. They have ample foods from which 

to choose in their main southern migration, occurring 

normally in late August and early September. 

Although it takes abundant food to attract and hold 

pigeons in a given area, in some cases the availability 

of food alone does not control the length of the birds’ 

stay. At the start of the fall migrations in Washington, 

madrone trees in particular are heavily laden with ripe 

or ripening fruit. 

The predominant foods taken in spring, summer, and 

fall in pigeon habitats of Washington and Oregon are 

acorns, dogwood (Cornus spp.) fruits, mountain-ash 

(Sorbus spp.) berries, blackberries (Rubus ursinus), 

raspberries (Rubus spp.), thimbleberries (Rubus spp.), 

salmonberries (Rubus spp.), along with elderberries 

(Sambucus spp.), currants (Ribes spp.), and kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) berries. 

Complaints of crop damage are made against pigeons 

for feeding to some extent on green prunes, broadcast 

grain, and feld peas. It is noteworthy to report that 

surface grain is gleaned from the felds by bandtails, 

but in no instance have they been found scratching out 

drilled or covered seeds. Observations (Gabrielson and 

Jewett 1940) of pigeons feeding in pea felds revealed 

no damage to pea seeds drilled 4 to 6 inches (10–15 

cm) deep. As with grain, the pigeons were at no time 

observed to scratch out well-drilled seed, being apparently content to wander about picking up peas spilled 

on the surface. 

Band-tailed pigeon food habits for September 1946 

and 1947 varied (Table 3). These 149 pigeon stomachs 

and crops were collected by the Oregon Cooperative 

Wildlife Research Unit and examined by Johnson A. 

Neff, Biologist, Wildlife Research Laboratory, Denver, Colorado. Listed are percentage by volume and 

frequency of occurrence of food items eaten. Appearing most frequently as food items were wild dogwood 

fruits, Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) acorns, 

elderberry, and cascara (Rhamnus purshiana) fruits. 

Also represented in much lesser percentages were 

western hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii), wild cherry 

(Prunus avium), and western serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) fruits, with only a trace of cultivated 

oats and barley. 

J. A. Neff ’s examination of the crops of these wild 

pigeons revealed less gravel than any other group of 

like size he had ever examined. He observed that it 

is customary for pigeons feeding almost entirely on 

dogwood, cherry, and other fruits with hard woody pits 

to take limited amounts of gravel. 

Bandtails observed feeding in fall near Mount Hood, 

Oregon, were apparently feeding in heather patches on 

the seeds of Lupinus lyallii of the legume or pea family (Gabrielson and Jewett 1940). Other wild legume 

seeds of unidentifed species of clover (Trifolium spp.), 

lupine (Lupinus spp.), and trefoil (Lotus spp.) were 

eaten in California (Neff 1944). 

Huey (1913), working in the Cuyamaca Range of San 

Diego County, California, observed about 100 bandtails 

on 3 July 1910 feeding on green manzanita berries. It 

could well have been the male breeders feeding since 

Huey reports the birds arrived shortly after sunrise 

to feed, left between 8:00 and 9:00 AM, then returned 

in the evening about 4:00 PM and stayed until dark. 

During the nesting season, feeding periods begin or 

end at approximately the times when the male replaces 

Name of Section Feeding Habits 15
16 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

the female in the morning or leaves the nest in the 

afternoon. 

Food preferences on Eliza Island between April 

and October of the two study years, 1952 and 1953, 

were frst the buds or fowers of numerous madrone 

trees. Douglas-fr leaf buds and the catkins of grand 

fr were also taken in early spring. The island grain 

felds were searched periodically by arriving pigeons 

in their quest for food. Red elderberries on Eliza 

Island, nearby islands, and the mainland were used 

predominately by nesting adults and as supplemental 

food for the squabs in addition to pigeon ‘milk’ during 

June, July, and part of August. Salal (Gaultheria 

shallon) berries followed elderberries, with dogwood 

appearing in the diet in September. Those pigeons 

still on the island after the ripening of madrone fruit 

in September and October avidly ate this food. Wild 

cherries were eaten by adults from Eliza Island’s few 

trees, but did not appear in the nest droppings as far 

as could be determined. 

Observations on nearby islands and the mainland in 

August and September showed pigeons eating mainly 

wild cherries, huckleberries, manzanita berries, coffeeberries (Rhamnus californica), blackberries, salal 

berries, and acorns. The main acorn and pine nut 

mast crops are found further south in Oregon and 

California. 

The following feeding habits were observed between 

11 April and September 1952 on Eliza Island. They 

show specifcally the dates, time of day, and feeding 

habits for this year. On 11 April, two bandtails were 

observed in a madrone tree feeding upon the unopened fower buds. There were about 100 madrone 

trees on the island; this particular tree was in early 

fower. Daily feeding by pigeons varying from two to 

fve on the above tree continued until 18 April. 

On 18 April, one bandtail observed at a distance appeared to be eating something from the branches of 

a grand fr. The exact nature of this food was determined on 23 April. At 5:20 AM, 19 pigeons landed in 

a grand fr some 50 yards (46 m) distant and began 

feeding on the staminate catkins. The birds would 

feed for 10 to 15 minutes, and then fy to a nearby 

bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) where they sat 20 

to 30 minutes before returning to the fr. They continued this procedure through the morning. At 3:00 

PM on the same day, 18 bandtails were fushed from 

the above fr, and the catkins were closely checked. 

Many were still rather frm while others had opened 

and fne pollen was shed. It is not defnitely known 

which type of catkin was taken, frm or pollenshedding, but since this was one of the few grand frs 

with any frm staminate catkins left at that time, it 

might possibly indicate the birds prefer that type. 

No specimens of birds eating the catkins were taken 

for crop examination. An interesting point is that although Douglas-fr is at least equally as abundant as 

grand fr on the island, at no time were pigeons seen 

eating anything from Douglas-fr. 

On 24 April, 12 bandtails were observed feeding in a 

young grand fr at the southern end of Eliza Island, 

the last date pigeons were observed feeding in any 

grand fr. Due to observations being made from outside the forest in the frst part of the month, it seems 

reasonable to assume the pigeons probably were 

feeding on frs in areas obscured from view earlier 

than the recorded dates. 

During the above-mentioned feeding period in grand 

frs, madrone trees were being frequented by larger 

numbers of pigeons. By 28 April, many new budding 

madrones were being used with 10 to 20 pigeons being fushed almost daily from their branches. Specimens of two bandtails feeding on madrones were collected under a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit. 

An adult male was collected from a madrone tree on 

3 May. This pigeon had a full crop and gizzard, and 

weighed 17 ounces (482 g). Examination revealed 

the fowers and unopened buds were being taken as 

suspected. A second specimen was collected on 11 

May. It was an adult male; both specimens had welldeveloped testes. Weight of the second pigeon was 14 

ounces (397 g). Its crop likewise contained madrone 

buds and fowers. 

By 16 May, other madrone trees were being fed upon, 

since the frst fowering trees used in April had begun 

to fruit. However, at this time the pigeons began to 

fy to either Lummi Island or the northern mainland 

for other types of food. The last pigeon observed 

to feed in a madrone tree on Eliza Island was on 23 

May. 

It appears that adult nesting birds prefer red elderberries for their early summer diet. One nest showed 

red elderberry fruit being fed the squab as early as 4 

June. Grain was taken in May and June or whenever 

available either on Eliza Island during the baiting period or in the mainland felds. Normally only exposed 

grains remaining from the broadcast spring planting 

would be gleaned by the pigeons from the felds. 

Feeding on madrone fruit was frst noted in early fall 

(25 August) on Eliza Island. On this date, one bandtailed pigeon ate a few berries, only a few of which 

were coloring on the tree. Salal berries were ripening in August and eight pigeons were fushed from 

these bushes on 27–28 August. On the south point of 

Eliza Island, six to ten pigeons were often seen feeding in salal patches during September following the 

end of nesting. Some early-ripening madrone berries 

were also being used at this time, but most pigeons 

had migrated south by the time the madrone crop became fully mature. The latest date that pigeons were 

seen feeding on madrone berries on Eliza Island was 

on 25 October. 

General food habit observations were made on Eliza 

Island during the intensive 1953 nesting study (Table 

4). No live birds were intentionally collected for 

food habit analyses, nor was a new nest scat analysis 

made. Food preferences between 12 April and 12 
Name of Section 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17

September 1953 were very similar to those apparent 

from observations in 1952. 

Game protector Charlie Long, Washington Department of Game, has observed pigeons feeding on 

over-ripe madrone fruits in the Puget Sound islands. 

He reported these birds, after eating a considerable 

number of fermenting madrone fruit, would futter 

around on the ground in an inebriated condition. 

Approached closely by a human, the pigeons had 

considerable diffculty eluding the person. Other 

varieties of over-ripe berries cause similar reactions 

in pigeons. A heavy diet of madrone fruits results in 

portions of the pigeon’s body fesh becoming discolored; this would apply also to salal and hawthorn 

berries. 

Domestic garden peas (Pisum sativum) formed 4.8% 

of the food of 639 pigeons collected in fve western 

states (Neff 1944). The cultivated peas were all from 

birds taken in Washington and represent waste or 

valuable products for the entire year. Use of this 

food is also described by J. A. Munro (1922) for British Columbia and is reported from certain areas in 

Oregon and California. 

Some foods used to attract and trap wild pigeons in 

Washington were described by Ransom (1956): 

Popped and unpopped popcorn: Sep, 

Oct, Jan, Mar, Apr 

Whole yellow feld corn: Jan, Mar, Apr 

Dried sweet corn kernels: Jan 

Mountain ash berries: Sep 

Ailanthus altissima seeds 

(Tree of Heaven): Sep 

Sunfower seeds-whole: Jan, Feb, Mar 

Buds of cottonwood (Populus spp.) and 

other poplar trees: Apr, May 

Peanut butter mix: Nov, Dec, Jan 

This food is so foreign to what a band-tailed

 pigeon in the wild would naturally fnd that 

it was extremely amusing to watch them 

cram their throats with it and then swallow 

time after time to get it to go on down to 

their crops. They seemed to relish it 

however. 

Band-tailed pigeons choose to drink salt water at 

the margin of Puget Sound mud fats even though 

freshwater streams are available according to Neff 

(1947). The bandtail is attracted to mineral springs 

heavy in salt concentration. Salt is also attractive 

to white-winged (Zenaida asiatica) and mourning 

doves according to Wing (1956). 

Feeding Habits 17 
18 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

Molting 

Molting information concerning the bandtail that 

has been published to date is limited. From Bent 

(1932:357): 

The juvenal plumage is much like that of the 

adult, but it lacks the white collar and the iridescent metallic colors on the neck; the vinaceous 

tints are wholly lacking; and the feathers of the 

breast and wing coverts are narrowly edged with 

whitish, giving a slightly scaly effect. Molting 

birds are scarce in collections, but apparently 

young birds have a complete molt during the frst 

fall, which produces a practically adult plumage. 

I have been unable to trace the molts of adults, 

but a complete molt probably occurs, as it does in 

European pigeons, during summer and fall; this 

may begin as early as May or June and end as 

late as October or November. 

Aviary studies noted by Neff and Culbreath (1947:20) 

indicate: 

Male birds in the wild and in the aviary are 

observed as possessing a distinguishing coloration on the breast; certain writers call it pinkishbrown or vinaceous; the present investigators 

call it a purplish or raspberry tint. We feel that 

the extent and intensity of the raspberry tint on 

the breasts of the male birds is the best physical 

characteristic of sex; it is least evident during the 

period from November through March. During 

this period there is a defnite fading of this dominant characteristic until the spring molt; this 

occurred in March in the aviary birds. Sex determination is impossible from external physical 

marking from November to late in March. From 

March to May the raspberry hues on the breasts 

of the males may be expected to intensify. 

Molting by pigeons on Eliza Island became noticeable during June in both 1952 and 1953 with feathers 

found in fresh nests. Molting increased into July and 

August, but was beginning to taper off by mid-September. This was a complete molt, judging from the 

tail, wing, and other body feathers that were found 

on the island or noted missing on fying pigeons. As 

many as 15 to 25 molted adult feathers were found in 

an individual nest during August. A study of Colorado band-tailed pigeons collected in September 1945 

showed considerable molt underway (Neff 1947:5). 

During observations on 18 August 1953 of a fight 

route between Orcas Island and the Lummi Indian 

Reservation on the mainland, the molt was very evident since many birds had wing fight feathers missing. Some 400 pigeons were counted this particular 

day with a great deal in molt. A check of this same 

fight route on 26 July had revealed only a minority to 

be molting wing feathers. An incidental observation 

of interest was that the majority of the pigeons few 

with their bills open. 

It was not evident that squabs molted any feathers 

in their nests, although most of the yellow or whitish 

down present at hatching was shed or picked off the 

body by the squab by the time it was ready to leave 

the nest area. No neck ring was present at this time, 

but it was acquired before the next spring by a molt, 

presumably in the fall, which produced the adult 

plumage. 
Name of Section 

 

 

 

19

Ranges and Nesting Season 

Pacifc Coast 

Band-tailed pigeons in their northernmost breeding 

areas are summer visitors to the Gulf Islands, Puget 

Sound lowlands, and the Coast Forest Biotic Province of British Columbia. Munroe and Cowan (1947) 

reported eggs at Victoria, Vancouver Island from 15 

April to 30 June; Coquitlam on 30 April 1934; Salt 

Spring Island in June 1900; and on De Horsey Island 

on 23 June 1945. 

Bent (1932:354) cites E. A. Kitchin as saying the 

bandtail nesting season in the state of Washington 

lasted from April through June. Arthur S. Einarsen (letter of 15 December 1939) reported a nest 

near Triton Cove, Hood’s Canal Highway that on 24 

August 1939 contained a squab about a week old. Hagenstein (1936) observed a nest containing a squab 

near Seattle on 17 October 1935. 

On Eliza Island in 1952 and 1953, the overall nesting season from eggs to fedged squabs ranged from 

April into September (Tables 5 and 6). First eggs 

representing the earliest nesters each year were 

found between 23 and 30 April. Two squabs did not 

leave their nests until 3 and 12 September during 

1952 and two left their nests on 22 and 23 September 

1953. The spread of these dates, plus observations 

of copulation in early spring and in late July, indicate 

that at least some bandtail pairs might have time 

to bring off two broods in one year. Those pigeons 

arriving late may not be able to nest before May or 

June, thus elongating the nesting season. Bandtails will renest if their frst attempts are hampered 

by accidents, predation, or other factors. This is 

another, possibly a primary reason, for some of the 

widespread nesting dates noted in the Puget Sound, 

Washington nesting areas. 

Nesting seasons in the state of Oregon are reported 

by Gabrielson and Jewett (1940). They reported that 

egg-laying in Oregon is at its height late in May and 

in June, and give 3 May and 12 July as the known 

extremes of the season. Jewett (1941) later recorded 

a nest with two eggs in Yamhill County, Oregon on 30 

September 1940. 

Grinnell et al. (1918), reporting on the nesting season 

for California, list nests containing eggs or young 

from 5 March to 23 August. Neff (1947) further 

reports that: 

A. C. Oberle (letter of 15 April 1935) says that 

nesting has been observed on the Laurette 

Ranch north of San Dimas, California, and 

in Brown’s Flat, the frst nesting starting 

about 1 April. Eggs were observed into May. 

Apparently each nest contained but one egg 

at a time. Abbott (1927) quoted Bushnell’s 

observation of a nest that contained one egg 

on 8 March 1925, and later a second egg that 

hatched in mid-May. Moran (1919) relates 

fnding a nest with one well-incubated egg on 

30 March 1895 at the head of Lopez Canyon, 

San Luis Obispo County. Grinnell (1928) 

watched a squab being fed in a nest on 29 

September 1927. Stillman (1928) describes 

a young bird that left its nest in San Diego 

County on 2 October. Kloppenburg (1922) 

noted a nest in the Plumas National Forest 

that contained one egg in mid-September. 

Derby (1920) recorded one containing a naked 

squab on 1 September 1920 at 6,500 feet (1,981 

m) elevation on the headwaters of Deer Creek, 

Sequoia National Forest. 

A literature survey of band-tailed pigeon nesting 

dates in California was made by Dehnel (1947), which 

shows nesting as early as February and one young 

leaving its nest on 1 November. The majority of 

these observations were made from central California southward, and the spread of these nesting dates 

through 10 months of the year indicates that it would 

be possible for some pairs of pigeons to raise more 

than one brood in a year. 

Later studies from California include those of Glover 

(1953) and MacGregor and Smith (1955); their work 

adds more light to the nesting season of the secretive 

band-tailed pigeon. Glover (1953) reported the peak 

of the nesting season was 15 June to 15 July for his 

northwestern California, Humboldt County study 

area. The nesting season in the Humboldt Bay region was earlier reported by Davis (1938) as peaking 

about 15 June. 

MacGregor and Smith (1955) in a west-central California nesting and reproduction study of the bandtail 

between 1952 and 1955 reported that nesting occurred as early as February and as late as October. 

Peeters (1962) indicated that nesting activity in his 

Strawberry Canyon study area did not commence 

until 28 May in 1961, but had started by April in 1962 

as indicated by prenuptial displays. 

Ranges and Nesting Season 19 
20 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

The northernmost reported nesting location for the 

band-tailed pigeon in California is Requa, Del Norte 

County according to J. Mailliard (1923, in Grinnell 

and Miller 1944). These authors note Stephens 

(1913) as reporting the southernmost breeding location as Laguna Mountain, San Diego County. 

Rocky Mountains 

The Rocky Mountains population of band-tailed 

pigeons in the U.S. includes Utah, Colorado, Arizona, 

New Mexico, and western Texas. Pigeons in this 

region are much less numerous than those of the 

Pacifc Coast. Records of nests are less numerous, 

also, since the birds are scattered widely, but with 

added interest and research, more nests may be 

found in coming years. 

Neff (1947) noted that only meager records were 

available for Utah. Lee Griner recorded one active 

band-tailed pigeon nest in June and Clarence Cottam 

(1941) observed a juvenile bandtail only recently 

out of the nest on 24 July. Rawley and Bailey (1964) 

report nesting in Utah occurs in June and July. 

Colorado had no documented band-tailed pigeon 

nesting records until 1945 when J. A. Neff and R. J. 

Niedrach found two nests (Neff 1947). The pigeons 

had been present over a wide area, and it was 

assumed they were nesting, but no nests were found 

until that year when one was located on 22 August 

and the second on 31 August. Neff and Niedrach 

(1946) believed the nesting season of 1945 was from 

1 July to 30 August with possibly some pairs nesting 

earlier or later. 

Interviews with forest rangers in Colorado during 

1946 produced the following details in connection 

with pigeon nests prior to 1945. Neff and Culbreath 

(1947) reported: 

M. F. Darley, retired, Monte Vista, found his 

frst pigeon nest in Corbett Gulch 5 miles [8 

km] northwest of Ouray in what is now the 

Uncompahgre National Forest, in August 1904. 

... 

M. R. Hickel, District Ranger, now at Salida, 

reports that in 1940 he found 4 bandtail nests 

in early September in cottonwood trees along 

Crystal Creek east of Crawford, on the margin 

of the Gunnison National Forest. R. K. Gierisch, 

district ranger, Westcliffe, found a single nest 

in a yellow pine [Pinus spp.] at approximately 

9,500 feet [2,896 m] above the South Fork of 

Hayden Creek, Sangre de Cristo Range, in 

August, 1944. 

Although extensive nest searches were made by 

Neff and Culbreath (1947) in the Rampart Range, 

Pike National Forest, no nests were found. “The 

area where the birds were active in 1945 was almost 

devoid of activity in 1946, though they fed at the 

same location on the Perry Park Ranch.” This was 

the same area where Neff and Niedrach (1946) 

discovered two nests in 1945. 

Niedrach and Matteson (1949) reported that four 

nests were found by Mr. Niedrach in Colorado: 

The frst of these was found 5 August and 

contained an egg which was determined to 

have been freshly laid. At the time of this 

writing (October 1949) the squab has become 

feathered and thence airborne. Two more 

nests were found, one each on 11 and 12 

August, each having a fully feathered squab in 

the branches of the tree containing the nest. 

Still another nest was found on 2 September, 

this one containing an egg. It was noted in this 

report that all of the nests found during 1949 

were in the same vicinity of nests found in the 

preceding years near the head of Bear Canyon, 

Colorado. 

Neff (1947) noted the following observations on 

bandtail nesting seasons for Arizona: 

In Arizona, according to Bendire’s (1892) 

correspondents, nesting occurred in nearly 

every month of the year. Poling, writing to 

him from Fort Huachuca of various nests, 

said, “I have taken young two or three months 

old in February, and since that time young 

and eggs enough to show that they lay and 

nest from December to August.” Benson 

reported nesting of bandtails in the Huachuca 

Mountains from early July to late October; 

Willard (1913) noted an October nest; and 

Vorhies (1928) one in September. On Pinal 

Mountain south of Globe, Arizona, Carlos 

Stannard reported nests as follows: 18 August 

1940, one egg; 19 August 1940, squab ready 

to fy; 23 August 1940, a squab about 4 days 

old, which was still in the nest on 30 August; 

and on 14 August 1941, four nests, one with 

eggs, three with squabs between 1 and 3 weeks 

old. Considerable feld work by the writer, 

accompanied by State game wardens, leads to 

the conclusion that in southern Arizona nesting 

most commonly begins early in May, though 

occasionally earlier. 

Paul Webb and W. H. Bohl on 17 August 1954 on 

Mogollon Mesa of central Arizona were awakened 

at 05:30 AM in the morning to the sounds of male 

pigeons cooing in the forest. One territorial fight 

was observed and buzzing calls were heard as males 

chased others from their nesting areas. At least two 

males attempted copulation among the females in the 

group of 25 to 30 birds present. An excellent acorn 

crop was being used by these pigeons on this date. 

The forest here was mainly pine (Pinus spp.) and 

oaks (Quercus spp.). 
Name of Section 

 

 

 

21

There are reports of widespread pigeon nesting 

in New Mexico over the many scattered mountain 

ranges. Neff (1947) summarized observations of 

nesting by bandtails in New Mexico: 

For New Mexico, Mrs. Florence Merriam 

Bailey (1928) lists a number of interesting 

records, chief among them being that of a nest 

containing one well-incubated egg on 23 April 

1922, 16 miles [26 km] northeast of Santa Fe, 

at 10,500 feet [3,200 m] elevation, well above 

the snow line. There are also records for the 

Animas Mountains, Guadalupe Mountains, 

Monument Pass, Black Mountains, and the 

Pecos, Sacramento, Sandia, Taos, Sangre de 

Cristo, Jemez, and Mogollon ranges, the dates 

extending from 3 June to mid-August, and the 

elevations from 5,800 to 8,000 feet [1,768 to 

2,438 m]. 

A pigeon nest with one egg was located on 1 

September 1948 in the Black Range by Alton Ford, a 

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish trapper. 

On Hay Mesa in this same range a pigeon squab was 

located on 17 September 1948 by A. Ford and E. M. 

Lang, biologist with the New Mexico Department 

of Game and Fish. Several more active nests were 

observed in the near vicinity of the above nest in this 

period (personal communication, A. Ford and E. M. 

Lang). A pigeon nest with a squab was discovered 

in the second week of September 1948 on the Fort 

Bayard Refuge in the Pinos Altos Range by John 

Shaul, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish 

trapper (personal communication). 

Other nesting records for New Mexico cited in Neff 

(1952) are: 

State Trapper Dudley Messer, New Mexico, 

reported under date of 30 July as follows: 

Three miles (5 km) east of Mimbres post offce, 

on west side of Hedrick’s Peak, Black Range. 

Nest with one egg at this location in a pinon 

[Pinus spp.] tree. 

Ranger A. J. Riggs, Silver City District, Gila 

National Forest, stated in 1954 (USFWS 1955): 

Reports from local residents indicate there 

were more birds seen this year than in the 

past four or fve. Birds were distributed 

in the higher mountain areas during June 

and July but most of them migrated to the 

woodland type or left the country entirely after 

continued rains in August. Three nests, two 

with one bird each and one with one egg, were 

found in the near vicinity of Signal Peak. 

Further consultation with Ranger Riggs revealed 

these nests were found in June and July 1954. 

A report by Mr. Arnold Payne (Neff 1952) indicated: 

... observed band-tailed pigeons in the Animas 

Mountains periodically throughout July, 

August, and September. On 16 July, he found 

one young squab in the nest in Bear Canyon; 

his report indicates that this bird was about 

ready to leave the nest on 29 July. On that 

date he observed 397 birds in Bear and Pine 

canyons. On 12 August, he located a nest with 

one egg in a pine tree at Indian Creek Springs. 

The latter nest was empty on 23 August. On 

8 September, he located a nest with one egg at 

the head of Pine Canyon. On 15 September, 

he located two nests—one at Indian Creek 

Springs and one in Indian Creek Canyon. He 

visited the nest in this canyon on 18 September 

and a bird was still on the nest. 

W. H. Bohl observed bandtail nesting activity on 

22 June 1955 at 4,500 feet (1,372 m) in the Animas 

Mountains of extreme southwestern New Mexico 

that included several males cooing in the canyons 

and on the hillsides. Several territorial futter fights 

accompanied by buzzing calls were observed and 

one nest just being constructed was located up the 

hillside a short distance from a water tank. A squab 

estimated to be 3 to 4 days old was present in this 

nest on 18 July. Near the Mayhill Ranger Station, 

Sacramento Mountains on 9 August 1954, W. H. Bohl 

observed 100 to 150 pigeons scurrying over freshlyplanted grain felds. Some calling was heard from 

birds perched in juniper (Juniperus spp.) trees near 

the feld. One male displayed before a female and 

in attempting copulation was rejected. Two young 

of the year, as indicated by their lack of neck-rings, 

were present at the felds. 

W. H. Bohl, while riding horseback up Little Turkey 

Creek on 19 August 1956 in the Mogollon Range, 

Gila National Forest, found a bandtail nest with the 

adult hovering over a squab, approximately 10 days 

old, during a light rain. When the nest tree was 

approached, the adult fushed, giving the cripple act, 

and the squab settled low in the nest. 

Two observations of bandtails nesting in Texas were 

cited by Neff (1947). 

In Texas, Ray Williams, State Game Warden, 

observed a pair of pigeons building a nest on 

22 April 1933 in the Davis Mountains, and 

saw a nest containing an egg in the Chisos 

Mountains in July of that year. 

Ranges and Nesting Season 21 
22 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

Mexico 

Information on the breeding areas and season for 

the band-tailed pigeon in Mexico, Baja California, 

and other locations to the south has been meager 

due mainly to a lack of observers. However, several 

sources were located. Friedmann et al. (1950) differentiated between the subspecies of the bandtail in the 

United States and those of Mexico and Baja California. They report Columba [Patagioenas] fasciata 

monilis as being present during the breeding season 

from northern Baja California, Mexico to southwestern British Columbia. 

The subspecies Columba [Patagioenas] fasciata 

vioscae is found in Mexico and is confned to southern Baja California where it is resident in the oak 

belt (Upper Sonoran Life-zone) of the Cape District, 

an area south of latitude 23.75° N. Friedmann et al. 

(1950) note this race sometimes descends into the 

foothills. The nesting season of Viosca’s pigeon is 

described as variable or very much prolonged during 

the year. “Reliable observers have found this pigeon 

nesting in January, February, March, April, May, 

June, July, August, September, and December” according to Bent (1932:362). 

The subspecies Columba [Patagioenas] fasciata 

fasciata, as reported by Bent (1932): 

... breeds in Rocky Mountain States from 

Colorado south to Pacifc Cordillera of Guatemala, wintering from California southward. 

It breeds in Mexico commonly from northern 

Sonora east to Coahuila (Diamante Pass), 

and south, chiefy above 5,000 feet [1,524 m] 

through both the Sierra Madre Oriental and 

Sierra Madre Occidental to Guerrero, Chiapas, and Veracruz; winters from at least 6,500 

feet [1,981 m] (Babizos, northeast Sinaloa), to 

somewhat lower altitudes. It has been recorded from Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, 

Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, 

Coahuila, San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, Puebla, 

Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas and Veracruz. 

Blake (1953) in his book, Birds of Mexico, does not 

list details for the breeding season for the bandtail in 

Mexico, but gives the following data: 

Distribution—highlands generally, chiefy 

above 5,000 feet [1,524 M]. 

Races—C. f. monilis (northern Baja California). C. f. vioscae (mountains and foothills of 

southern Baja California). C. f. fasciata (mountain forests, exclusive of Baja California). 

Leopold (1959) considered the band-tailed pigeon, 

which ranges from Baja California to Chiapas, “... 

nearly as dependable an indicator of pine-oak forest in Mexico as the Montezuma quail [Cyrtonyx 

montezumae].” He reports that pigeons breed over 

most or all of this range in local colonies but are not 

uniformly distributed. Of interest are his comments 

on the seasonal behavior of pigeons in Mexico as he 

noted them during 12 to 14 years: 

In winter the birds gather into groups of 10 to 

100 and shift about widely, following the mast 

of acorns, manzanita berries, and other winter 

foods. There is a defnite southward infux 

of birds from the western United States into 

northern Baja California and probably into Sonora and Chihuahua at that season. But over 

most of Mexico seasonal movements are local 

and in no particular direction. In spring the 

focks drift back to their breeding areas. 

Leopold (1959) reported the band-tailed pigeon nesting season in Mexico as being long, extending from 

at least May to August. He further noted that on 2 

June that he: 

... collected a male bandtail in full breeding condition near Los Reyes, Michoacan, 

and a few days later on 8 June, I found two 

nests high in oak trees on the slopes of Mt. 

Tancitaro. At the same time in this locality 

we collected well-grown young that had left 

the nest, indicating that breeding had been 

in progress for well over a month. The latest nest encountered during the survey was 

found 18 August near Pacheco, Chihuahua, 

but on 10 September, I collected two adults on 

the Cerro San Felipe, Oazaca, whose gonads 

indicated recent cessation of breeding. 

Dr. Leopold surmises from this type of lengthy 

nesting season and from research data collected in 

California that each pair of pigeons may complete 

several nesting cycles during each summer. 

On 17 July 1955 a bandtail nest was found by W. 

H. Bohl along Cajon Bonitc Creek in the State of 

Chihuahua, Mexico, just south of the New Mexico 

border. An adult was incubating the egg in the middle of a very warm day. Nesting activity appeared 

strong here. Over 100 pigeons were seen, occasionally displaying territorial fights and calls, and 

much cooing was occurring during the day along the 

sycamore-lined creek with its running stream. 

A. F. Skutch (personal letter, 21 July 1956) cited the 

following data from the mountains above Tecpan, 

Department of Chimaltenango, Guatemala: 

The nest was found on a bushy hillside about 

9,000 feet [2,743 m] above sea level and the 
Name of Section 23

carelessly constructed platform of coarse 

sticks, measuring about 7 to 8 inches [18–20 

cm] in diameter, rested on a large branch 

against the main trunk 20 feet [6 m] above 

the ground. On 13 March 1933, it contained 

one pure white egg, which was about equally 

blunt on the two ends and measured 0.5 by 1.1 

inches [1.3 by 2.8 cm]. It had not hatched by 

23 March, and when I next visited the nest on 

28 March it had vanished. 

Ranges and Nesting Season 23 
24 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Courtship 

From the time the frst pigeons arrived at Eliza Island from the south, it was apparent that the breeding season was imminent. In both 1952 and 1953, not 

all of the frst arrivals were paired, and fghting and 

chasing among males was noticeable over the island. 

Courting desires were exhibited by males pursuing 

females high in the air or through the treetops. Ardent cooing and showy futtering fights accompanied 

by raspy buzzes were other expressions by the males. 

The frst cooing heard in 1952 was on 11 April, and 

on 3 April in 1953. Territorial futter fights were occurring just prior to these dates. These expressions 

of courtship and defenses of a pair’s nesting grounds 

rapidly increased as more pigeons arrived from the 

south. Active months of courtship were May, June, 

and early July with a distinct tapering off by August. 

The last day cooing was heard in 1953 was on 20 

August. 

Glover (1953) reported cooing was frst heard on 

27 April in northwestern California with the peak 

occurring during the last half of June and early July. 

The last cooing he heard that year was on 15 August, 

illustrating a parallel between the two widely separated breeding areas. 

Cooing, or owl-like hooting, by the bandtail is as variable as its many other calls, mannerisms, and fights. 

Florence M. Bailey (in Bent 1932:359) described its 

wide variety of cooing: 

Sometimes it is a calm whoo’-whoo-hoo, 

whoo’-whoo-hoo, and others a spirited hoop’-

ah-whoo’, and again a two syllable Whoo’-ugh, 

made up of a short hard hoot and a long coo, as 

if the breath was sharply expelled for the frst 

note and drawn in for the second. 

The procedure of the cooing exhibition has been aptly 

documented by J. H. Wales in Bent (1932:359): 

When the male pigeon starts this performance 

he usually maneuvers around for a frm footing and perhaps opens his bill slightly once or 

twice. Next he stretches his neck out in a line 

parallel with the axis of his body, and bends his 

head down to a right angle. With his bill open 

a crack he gives one gasp which flls out the 

skin of his neck until about three times natural 

size, and at the same time utters a very faint oo 

which is not usually audible over 20 feet [6 m]. 

All of these are preliminary actions, as directly 

following the frst sound comes the whoo-oo. 

This hoot is made by a quick expelling of the 

air from the bird’s lungs, and is accompanied 

by a slight downward push, which seems to 

give abruptness to the frst note. The swelled 

neck skin is not reduced, as the bill is opened 

and the lungs are reflled for the following coo. 

There are usually about seven or eight of these 

hoots in a series, but sometimes as many as 

eleven. When fnished, the male pigeon brings 

his neck back into its natural position and 

allows the air to escape from under the neck 

skin. This performance is repeated at irregular intervals through the early morning and 

the latter part of the afternoon. 

Harry S. Swarth in Bent (1932:354) states: 

During the breeding season the male bird is 

fond of sitting in some elevated position, usually the top of a tall dead pine, giving utterance, at frequent intervals, to a loud coo, more 

like the note of an owl than a pigeon, which can 

be heard at a considerable distance; while occasionally he launches himself into the air with 

wings and tail stiffy outspread, describes a 

large circle back to his starting point, uttering 

meanwhile a peculiar wheezing noise impossible of description. I had supposed that this 

noise was made by the outspread wings, but a 

male...in captivity... gave utterance to the same 

sound whenever angered or excited, evidently 

by means of his vocal organs, as we had ample 

opportunity of observing. 

Behavior of the Viosca’s pigeon (Columba 

[Patagioenas] fasciata vioscae) is similar to the 

band-tailed pigeon, as evidenced by the comments of 

Lamb (1926): 

The frst bird voices one hears in the early 

morning in the live-oak region are those of the 

narrow-fronted woodpeckers [acorn woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivoris], closely followed 

by the Viosca pigeons, whose mellow whoowhoo (frst note short, second long and slightly 

lower) sounds almost human, as if someone 

were trying to attract attention. From the 

specimens taken I learned it was only the 

males that make this sound. At this time, the 

birds perch upon some dead or bare limb, 

usually at some elevation. They are frequently 

seen futtering spirally with short wing-beats 
Name of Section 

 

 

 

25

or sailing slowly over some clearing, and then 

an entirely different note is uttered, at short 

intervals, hard to describe, but which could be 

called a sort of hoarse, gutteral croak, sounded 

for the sustained period. 

These observations by Mr. Lamb indicate the males 

were in the breeding season, and the futtering fights 

apparently are the same as the band-tailed pigeon 

territorial exhibitions displayed in the United States. 

There is no doubt that this call, this peculiar wheezing noise, like a modifed chirping of a cricket, gutteral croak, or buzzing, the word used by this author, 

are all attempts to describe one and the same call, 

and it is indeed of vocal origin. 

Band-tailed pigeons defnitely have a language of 

their own in their variety of calls. Other than cooing, which is heard only in the breeding season, the 

buzzes or spitting-like calls may be heard in some 

variation throughout the year. A warning call is often 

heard when pigeons are feeding in a tree and the 

birds are crowded. It may be described as a low, but 

sharp, guttural-type call and when given appears to 

mean “move over” or “give me plenty of room.” This 

same type of call was used by one of a group of 12 

bandtails resting in a fr, apparently as a warning of 

my approach. The birds immediately became alert 

and fushed, although they were not closely approached. 

Female bandtails also issue a modifcation of the 

buzzing call. This was heard frst at one nest, which 

contained an incubating female. Her mate had just 

landed nearby in readiness for the morning nest 

change after having given several territorial fight 

buzzes. From a distance of 30 yards (27 m) she could 

be heard to issue a guttural call several times as if 

expressing impatience to be relieved of her nesting 

duty. The female used this call, also, for urging the 

male to bring more twigs to the nest when building 

was in process. This performance was witnessed 

by W. H. Bohl on Eliza Island in 1953 and in the 

Animas Mountains of southwestern New Mexico in 

1955. Low buzzing-like calls often were emitted by 

both adults as they made the exchange in their nest 

incubating or brooding jobs. These calls are not like 

those of the female when she exhibits impatience, but 

more of a pleasant passing exchange coming only at 

the moment of nest transfer of partners. 

The male was observed cooing on the nest infrequently during incubation, brooding, and while feeding the squab after brooding had ceased. In several 

observations, the male cooed to the squab before 

coming to the nest and cooed on the nest platform 

during the quick feeding of the squab. If the female made any similar sounds at the nest they were 

inaudible to the observer. Schorger (1955) refers to 

the passenger pigeon also giving a call for requesting 

nest material: 

Ruthven Deane mentions that the female uttered a 

specifc signal for the delivery of nesting material. 

Squabs were often heard to utter thin piping notes 

from the nest platform and fedglings just out of the 

nest were heard occasionally. This call was their 

method of pleading for food, as they were dependent 

upon the adults. The piping sounds often indicated 

the adult’s presence in the vicinity of the nest before 

it could be seen by the observer from the blind. 

These notes could be heard up to a distance of 25 

yards (23 m). 

The adult male futter fights, which appear only 

during the pigeon breeding season, are phenomenal 

sights to see. This peculiar fight has been reported 

by Pearse (1935) from British Columbia, and others. 

It is described as short fights in a hesitant quivering 

manner with the bird appearing at times to be foating. The tail is spread wide with the wings moving 

in a futtering motion. Pearse (1935) further reports 

this type of fight was accompanied by two separate 

calls, one of which he described as being like the 

modifed chirping of a cricket. This description, in 

general, corresponds to the many observed bandtail 

displays on Eliza Island except for the length of these 

fights and number of calls issued. 

At Eliza Island, length of the fights ran from short 

circling distances to one-quarter of a mile (0.4 km) in 

a relatively straight line. In most cases, a series of 

futtering fights combined with direct fights were 

involved in the longer distances. In these fights, 

rather than only two separate calls per fight, there 

seemed to be no set number. The calls can be described as “buzzes” of short duration. Series of these 

buzzes were heard with as many as ten separate or 

grouped ones issued in a single fight. Three to six 

buzzes perhaps would be more of an average. The 

number of calls seemed to depend upon the length 

of fight, desire to display, and territory-defending 

enthusiasm. The buzzing sounds during territorial 

fights appeared to be an expression of challenge or 

irritation against other bandtails rather than wooing 

calls directed to the female. 

Normally the buzzes accompanied the futtering 

fights, but they were also heard in rapid direct 

fight to a much lesser extent. The buzzes were loud 

enough that on calm days they could be heard at a 

distance of several hundred yards (m). There are 

several other bandtail calls that are similar in tone to 

the buzzes, having a quality of raspiness, only they 

are much less amplifed and can be heard only at 

closer ranges. 

There is no doubt that the described short circling 

fights with accompanying buzzing are a territorial fight used primarily to delineate the nesting 

area. The female may or may not be stimulated or 

attracted by these fights. When this same fight 

encompasses larger areas, which include the actual or 

intended nest site, these are classifed by the author 

as “territorial fights.” This is a means of notifying 

other pigeons of his territory. Courtship and territorial fights were also given by unpaired males, seemCourtship 25 
26 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

 

 

ingly in their desire to attract a female or indicate a 

territory where nesting could be undertaken. 

Some futter fights were observed at the trap feeding area some distance removed from the actual nest 

territorial areas. Two nesting males with squabs in 

the nest were observed to leave their nest areas and 

enter the feeding area several hundred yards (m) 

distant in futter fights on several occasions. These 

fights usually resulted in other males present at the 

feeding area also rising in futter fights. 

The frst three pigeons, two males and one female, 

observed on Eliza Island in 1952 serve as representative examples for the numerous futter displays observed. The futtering fight, with buzzes, was often 

exhibited by the unpaired male either in the vicinity 

of the mated pair or in another forest section. As the 

sexual urge seemingly grew stronger in the pair, the 

mated male would often fy to the nearby displaying 

pigeon and vigorously give chase. The paired male 

would always enter the air and exhibit the futter 

fight when the second male entered his territory. If 

the second male persisted in remaining in the territory, either on a perch or in the futter fight, a chase 

and eviction would usually occur. 

While at the resting perches above the trap area, the 

bandtails exhibited two basic displays, which occurred repeatedly in the male’s attempts at conquest 

of a female during the breeding season. They were 

the wooing and the threat displays. In the wooing 

display, the male usually was within a foot (0.3 m) or 

so of the female and frst lowered his body to a near 

horizontal position to the limb on which he stood. As 

the body was lowered, inhaling of a large amount of 

air caused the neck skin to increase much in size and 

ruffed out the feathers. Deep cooing was then emitted. The call started off sharply, dipped slightly, and 

ended in a fast ascent. As more calls were issued, 

they were given a gurgling effect. By the time four 

to six calls were given in increasingly faster tempo, 

the sounds were much like the heavy purring of a 

cat as it is stroked. As each call was given, the head 

and body were jerked upward, then down, becoming 

higher from the limb each time, and the male usually 

kept walking toward the female. By the time several 

calls had been given, the male had its head very near 

that of the female. If receptive to this wooing, the female might allow copulation, but usually this did not 

occur immediately after this type of display. Rather, 

she either held her perch and somewhat ignored the 

male, hissed or buzzed at him causing him to stop, or 

few to another perch. This wooing display appeared 

to be the preliminaries of obtaining a mate for the 

breeding season. 

On 27 May 1953, four males at the trap area were 

cooing ardently to the females present. Two males 

tried to approach three different females with a wooing display. One male tried to mount two different 

females by jumping suddenly upon their backs, and 

one of the females was knocked off her perch by this 

vigorous approach. In another case, one male was 

wooing a female on one side and on his other side was 

a male busily pecking at this competition. That the 

female ever doubts the male’s amorous feelings after 

seeing his wooing display is questionable. 

The second basic exhibition, the threat display, was 

used by males in warding off or bluffng other males. 

A male would lower his head and neck in almost a 

straight line with his body, and then raise his wings, 

opening them about half way. The body was low and 

almost horizontal to the limb. In this position he then 

moved threateningly at an intruder, either bluffng 

him off the limb or after giving modifed buzzing hissing sounds, sometimes attempting to fail the other 

with his wings. Pecking was also used. 

Billing between males and females was frst noted 

on 15 and 19 April 1953 and became increasingly 

apparent in May as more pigeons formed into pairs. 

Billing is a display which stimulates both sexes. Normally, a pair would be perched on a limb side-by-side, 

either resting or doing some feather preening. The 

more aggressive male would often begin pecking gently at the bill of the female and simulation of feeding 

a squab would take place if both partners were so inclined. This performance consists of one of the birds 

opening its bill as the other gently attempts to probe 

between and around the bills. Also, their heads may 

be cocked over a shoulder or one bird may lay or 

move its head over the other’s neck or shoulders for 

short periods. The billing display may be performed 

near other pigeons, as at the feeding areas, but does 

not seem to attract a great deal of attention. 

The expressive actions of the male both before and 

during nesting, their ardent cooing, courtship and 

territorial fights, and loud buzzing calls, were considered typical. The female was never heard to coo, 

but had other vocal sounds in which she expressed 

herself. 

Due to limited observation time in 1952, only one 

copulation attempt was observed, this one on 5 June. 

In 1953, copulation was noted in April, May, June, 

and July with the frst observance on 22 April and 

the last on 31 July. The occurrence on 22 April was 

interesting in that it was rather early in the breeding season when few pairs were in evidence. Some 

15 pigeons were present in a dead alder (Alnus spp.) 

snag above the trap. One male attempted billing with 

a female; she immediately moved to another limb. 

Shortly thereafter, a second male joined this female 

and followed her down a limb to fnally be side-byside with her. Both were facing the same direction 

when the male cocked its head back over its shoulder several times. The female then crouched down 

slightly and raised her wings to form a platform. 

The male stepped lightly onto her back and wings, 

and with hardly a futter of wings stood quietly for a 

few seconds. The female maneuvered her tail so the 

male could make contact with her; he then wiggled 
Name of Section 27

and wagged his tail, futtered his wings and stepped 

off the female. Soon after, the female dropped to the 

baited trap without the male. No billing was observed before or after this copulation. The frst male, 

rebuked by the female, apparently sensed she was 

ready for copulation, but lost out to the second male, 

supposedly her mate. 

A second copulation display was observed at the trap 

site on 8 May. A pair was sitting close to one another 

and preening frequently when one turned its body 

in the opposite direction from the other. The second 

bird then turned so both birds were again facing the 

same direction. The female moved closer and, after 

futtering her wings rapidly and bobbing her head 

back over her left wing, she crouched low with raised 

wings. The male mounted, stood steadily with his 

tail slightly to one side, wagged his tail several times 

with accompanying wing futters, and stepped off the 

female. He then bobbed his head over his right wing 

several times. Billing was started by the female and 

continued for about four minutes until some other 

pigeons started descending to the trap to feed. Billing ceased immediately and, after looking at the trap 

areas, the male descended to feed, followed by the 

female. 

Copulation was observed to occur twice with one pair 

in a half-hour period. This pair was under the forest 

crown in a bigleaf maple near their nest site. Four 

other males were in the area, cooing, exhibiting the 

futter fight, and emitting buzzes. The male of the 

pair was irritated, apparently, and would often clap 

his wings loudly on take-offs, fying above the forest 

crown to meet any of the other males, some of which 

were known to have females on nearby nests. This 

event occurred immediately following afternoon nest 

changes of partners, and the males, just off the nest, 

apparently were airing their pent-up emotions and 

displaying their territorial boundaries. 

I noted the following in regard to the time of day 

copulation occurred: seven times copulation was 

observed in various pairs between 11:00 AM and 5:30 

PM, with many attempts also seen during this same 

time period. That attempts will be made during any 

of the daylight hours is very possible considering the 

actions of four amorous males on 8 May 1953. They 

were ardently cooing and using futter fights to 

display to one female in particular. One male tried to 

approach her giving a cooing display. A second male 

landed near her, then two more males approached, 

and all of the males displayed the threat position toward each other. Shortly thereafter, the female few 

away alone, the males not bothering to follow her. 

After bandtails had passed through the stages of 

courtship fights, wooing display, billing, and fnally, 

copulation, the search for the nest site began. Once 

the male and female were in accord concerning their 

breeding impulses they separated themselves from 

the gregarious activities of other pigeons. In the 

early part of the paired stage some would be found at 

the rest trees above the baited trap, but their activities were separate from the other birds present. The 

same was the case at water sites where single and 

paired birds came to drink. Roosting at night was 

sometimes with other birds or pairs, but once the 

nest was formed they almost always roosted apart 

from others. 

Following is an example of a pair which remained 

apart from other feeding birds. On 12 May 1953 at 

7:35 AM, two bandtails from the southern part of the 

island landed in a fowering madrone tree. One fed 

on the blossoms a few minutes then few to a nearby 

maple where it cooed once. The second bandtail left 

the madrone at 7:55 AM and, sitting a few minutes in 

the nearby maple, joined the frst pigeon and sat so 

close that they were touching each other. Both birds 

preened themselves and rested until 8:20 AM, when 

there was more feeding in the madrone followed 

by preening and resting in the maple again. Other 

pigeons were eating from the same tree, but this pair 

paid no attention to the others’ presence. 

Courtship 27 
28 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

 

 

Nest Discovery 

Eliza Island was a unique research station, being 

separated from the closest land by about 0.75 miles (1.2 

km) of bay. This, in effect, was a line of demarcation 

over which birds had to cross to leave the island or to 

return. As preferred food was not present on the island 

in suffcient quantity for nesting pigeons during June, 

July, and August, the birds, of necessity, left the island 

daily for food and water. Their fight patterns were plotted through use of the two observation platforms, which 

enabled tree-level watchers, and this greatly facilitated 

the fnding of nests (Figures 1, 5, and 6). 

Cessation of baiting activities in both years showed that 

pigeons in large numbers no longer came daily from 

nearby islands or the mainland, so remaining fights 

to and from the island were logically those of pigeons 

nesting there. Although band-tailed pigeon nests have 

always been diffcult to locate, the island’s location and 

the techniques developed defnitely helped in the fnding of 50 active pigeon nests in 1952 and 1953 (7 additional nests were found on nearby Lummi and Vendovi 

islands) (Figure 1, Table 5). 

Incoming and outgoing pigeon fight patterns were soon 

correlated with the known nest-shift times. Generally 

between 8:00 and 10:00 AM the male took the female’s 

place on the nest and remained there until the female 

replaced him during the afternoon change. This was 

between 3:30 and 5:30 PM, and the female remained on 

the nest through the night until the following mornings’ 

exchange with the male. 

It is possible the adult male or female may have transposed its time at the nest on certain days. This situation was not known to occur on Eliza Island, but this 

transposition has been described by Neff (1947) and 

others. Sexing of adults by external characteristics is 

diffcult even in good light or when the bird is in hand 

and only by practice can one become fairly profcient 

in distinguishing between the sexes. When scrutinization was made diffcult by foliage obstruction, dark 

forest interiors, or lack of observed fight patterns on 

the extremes of the island, the sex of the adult on the 

nest necessarily remained in question. Which sex was 

arriving at or leaving the nest was actually immaterial 

in regard to nest discoveries by means of fight patterns. 

The important phase at this time was locating the nest, 

followed by ascertaining at which time each sex was on 

the nest. 

The assumption that a pigeon was a male was based 

upon its more active and vigorous territorial fights, 

buzzing, cooing, activity in chasing other bandtails from 

the nest area, breast coloration, and size of neck ring. 

Considered as a group, all of these characteristics show 

a contrast to the opposite sex during the nesting season. 

Breast coloration and size of neck ring are two identifcation points that may be considered relative unless the 

sexes are side by side, at which time the differences are 

quite noticeable. 

Flight patterns followed this general day-long sequence: 

after the morning feeding period, the male replaced his 

nest partner. His initial approach to the island usually 

was made several hundred feet (m) above the water. 

Upon arriving at Eliza Island he would usually drop 

to tree level, and if other males were around, he would 

attempt to chase them away. Cooing from a perch to the 

female on the nest or making territorial fights encompassing his nest area were other activities. Making the 

actual nest change occurred after the male sat on a high 

fr perch, a forest interior perch, or soared overhead apparently until satisfed that no other pigeons or predators required watching. He would then move to the nest 

tree and take over the nest duties. Depending upon 

the time the male arrived at Eliza Island from his early 

morning feeding, the preliminaries leading to the actual 

nest change ranged from 15 minutes to an hour or more. 

After leaving the nest in the morning, the female would 

usually fy low through the tree tops or along the forest 

edge for 100 to 200 yards (91–182 m) and then pull up on 

a high perch. This action was exhibited also by the male 

in the afternoon change when he might fy as far from 

the nest as did the female, or as close as 50 yards (45 

m). If the nest was in the dense forest interior rather 

than at an edge, the frst fight might have been only a 

few yards (m); then after a short look, the second fight 

would have been up to the tree tops. The female generally did not stay long on Eliza after coming off the nest, 

but few to mainland or Lummi Island feeding areas. 

She, of course, sits the longest on the nest during the 

24-hour vigil and is undoubtedly very hungry at the end 

of her night’s sitting. 

In the evening the female readily indicated the location 

of her nest area since she was inclined to come directly 

into the immediate vicinity and make the change, if 

nothing seemed amiss around the nest area. She did 

not make territorial fights nor issue cooing, but upon 

coming in over the island she was heard to give the 

raspy buzz. Her nest change took less than 20 minutes, as a general rule. After leaving the nest in the 

afternoon, the male would either defend his territory, 

coo to the female, or more rarely, leave immediately for 

feeding areas. 
 

 

 

29

Figure 5. Band-tailed pigeon squab in the nest made of small sticks on the bough of a Douglas-fr tree located during the band-tailed pigeon study on Eliza Island, Washington, 1952–1953. 

Figure 6. Band-tailed pigeon squab in the nest made of small sticks on the bough of a Douglas-fr tree located 

during the band-tailed pigeon study on Eliza Island, Washington, 1952–1953. 

Name of Section Nest Discovery 29
30 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

Although the pigeons were not gregarious to any extent 

during nesting, they often joined one another after 

the nest change to fy to feeding areas. One or more 

pigeons, upon leaving their nests would fy north until 

they reached the shoreline. Reaching this point they 

would make several counter-clockwise circles, gaining 

altitude in the process. This appeared to be a rendezvous arrangement, for other nesting pigeons would 

often join them from other parts of the island, and all 

would then fy obliquely (NW) toward Lummi Island. 

Infrequently would a single bandtail fy toward Lummi 

Island, this usually occurred when a nest change was 

made late and the other pigeons had already left for 

feeding. Pigeons returned from feeding areas either 

singly or in small groups. Upon reaching the nesting 

areas they separated and normally did not tolerate 

their recent traveling companions in their respective 

nesting areas. 

The bulk of the nests were discovered by use of the 

fight pattern method, but two other methods were 

developed to a lesser degree. An imaginary 100-yard 

(91 m) radius check of a nest area was set up as a result 

of hearing low cooing of a male within the forest after 

the evening nest change. Canvassing this area on foot 

led to the discovery of nests. 

A third method was observation of territorial fights. 

When territorial fights covering large areas were 

observed the actual pin-pointing of new nests was 

diffcult. However, when smaller fight areas were the 

rule, the immediate area of the nest was more clearly 

indicated. Methods of discovering nests, in order of 

their highest success, were: observing pigeon fight patterns to and from the nest, listening for low cooing of 

the male after the evening nest exchange, and checking 

area encompassed by territorial fights. 

Although the presence of a nest in a general area was 

frst made obvious by one of these three methods, in 

all cases the fnal discovery was made by systematic 

searches from the forest foor. This involved following 

standard techniques. Systematic nest searches made 

two or three times monthly involved a form of “gridding” where the observer walked slowly through the 

forest in parallel paths over a selected route. Right 

angle paths were taken as the forest foliage situation 

demanded closer scrutiny of any particular area. During this “gridding” the observer would sweep his eyes 

over the trees or bushes in an effort to fnd a new or 

suspected nest. 

The adult bandtail pigeon normally is a tight-sitting 

bird whether incubating or brooding the squab. This 

habit increases the diffculty of locating bandtail nests 

unless one is “set” to observe certain details, namely 

an empty and often inconspicuous nest platform, a nest 

and the low silhouette of a squab (Figures 5 and 6), 

or the adult sitting motionless on the nest. The adult 

silhouette is decidedly easier to locate than that of the 

smaller squab. 

Upon frst spotting an adult on a nest, the observer’s 

eyes will almost immediately focus next on the basal 

portion of the pigeon’s bill, which is a straw yellow color. 

If the angle is right the white neck collar will be quickly 

noted as a second outstanding point, seeming to draw 

the observer’s attention, whereas the general blending 

of the bluish plumage does not immediately register 

as an outstanding point. The placement of a nest and 

the surrounding foliage is such that a pigeon on a nest 

may be passed by repeatedly no matter how diligent 

the searchers. The yellow bill and white neck ring 

were defnitely helpful in spotting some adults through 

rather obscuring foliage. The squab, on the nest, lacks 

the white neck ring and the strong straw-yellow color of 

the bill, characteristics usually acquired the year following hatching. 

By noting the ends of the twigs in the bandtail pigeon 

nests (Figures 5 and 6), one can usually tell a current 

year’s twig by its freshly broken tip. The male bandtail 

normally breaks each nest twig from a nearby tree and 

does not pick up any material from the ground. Twigs a 

year old or more can quite easily be distinguished from 

freshly-broken twigs. This knowledge is proftable 

when searching large areas for active nests, especially 

when both old and new nests are located without any 

eggs. A quick examination of the twig tip enables the 

observer to determine whether to come back to a particular nest or to classify it as that of a previous year. 

Location of a nest containing squab scat remains only 

can often lead to diagnosis of the approximate date the 

squab left the nest. Sow bugs (Order Isopoda) usually 

begin feeding upon the nest remains within one or two 

weeks. If the nest has been visited by these bugs and 

they have departed, the scats will be broken down considerably and will shatter upon touch. If the sow bugs 

have not yet found the nest, the excretory remains will 

be solidly united and it will require pulling to separate 

the twigs from the excrement. 
Name of Section 

 

31

Breeding Status 

Nesting was in full progress by each May during the 

Eliza Island studies and it was fortunate that two 

adult males and one adult female could be examined 

internally to ascertain the development of testes 

and egg follicles. Breeding development of one 

large male collected in late afternoon on 3 May 1952 

disclosed right and left testes measuring 0.67 and 

0.63 inches (17 and 16 mm) in length. A second but 

smaller male collected the afternoon of 11 May 1952 

had testes measurements of 0.63 and 0.60 inches (16 

and 15 mm) for comparison. Peeters (1962) collected 

an adult male near Berkeley, California on 10 May 

1961 and the testes measured 0.60 inches (15 mm) 

in length while the testes of an immature male had a 

length of only 0.17 inches (4 mm). 

One female bandtail met with an unfortunate trapping accident at Eliza Island on 29 May 1953 when 

the frame-style drop trap fell upon her, crushing 

one well-developed egg from her cloaca. Internal 

examination of this female disclosed three egg follicles measuring 0.16 to 0.20 inches (4 to 5 mm) and 

6 others measuring 0.12 inches (3 mm) or less. The 

accident occurred at 2:15 PM and it appeared that 

the extruded egg might very well have been laid later 

the same day or possibly the following day. 

Glover (1953) reports that of seven band-tailed 

pigeons killed illegally in California on 13 June, four 

were females, two of which showed evidence of recent 

ovulation. The examining California Department of 

Fish and Game offcer, Captain Leslie Lahr, indicated 

that none of the other ovarian follicles of these two 

females were developed larger than a number six 

shot (0.11 inches, 3 mm). The remaining two females 

contained at least fve ovarian follicles larger than a 

number six shot and each had one follicle that was 

larger than a pea. 

Neff (1947) reported a total of 280 adult band-tailed 

pigeons were examined by John C. Knox at Mountain Park, New Mexico, between 25 June and 10 July 

1941. Of 235 males in the collection, 151 had testes 

indicating an active breeding condition. There were 

45 females examined, 22 of which contained well-developed eggs. It was not indicated by Neff whether 

these were egg follicles or a single egg found in the 

oviduct tract. 

Neff and Culbreath (1947) further report on the 

breeding condition of adult bandtails in Colorado: 

In 1928, R. J. Niedrach collected pigeons on 28 

June near Evergreen, and one of the specimens contained an egg with a partially formed 

shell. Pigeons collected during the cherry 

season, late June to 15 July over a several year 

period by Frank Poley and Johnson Neff have 

all been adults, and none of them contained 

eggs over one-fourth inch [6 mm] in diameter. 

Collections made later in August and through 

September, however, contained active or retrogressive pigeon milk glands. 

On 4 June 1946, several pigeons became 

overheated and died in the trap at Perry Park 

ranch west of Larkspur. One of these birds 

was a female containing a soft-shelled egg, 

probably within three days of laying. If we 

allow 8 June as the day it would have been laid, 

and use the data acquired in 1945 on the development of the nestling pigeon, the resulting 

young from this egg would have left the nest 

about 18 July. 

Of the 12 birds examined on 4 June, 8 were 

females, 4 were males. The summary [frequency] of breeding development classes was 

as follows: 

Egg follicles less than 

1⁄4 inch [<6 mm] 4 

Follicles from 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch

 [6 to 13 mm] 2 

wo follicles in 1⁄2 inch 

[13 mm] class 1 

Fully developed egg, 1.6 by 0.9 inches

 [41 x 23 mm] 1 

Males, testes fully developed 4 

Attention is called to the one specimen containing two egg follicles of equal development, 

about one-half inch [13 mm] diameter. This 

appears to have been an instance where a twoegg clutch might have been laid. 

Breeding Status 31 
32 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

Egg follicles in live specimens collected in Paonia cherry orchards on 15 June all were under 

one-fourth inch [<6 mm] in diameter. Of nine 

specimens collected in the same area on 8 July, 

two contained follicles one-half inch [13 mm] 

in diameter, and the oviducts were enlarged as 

though they might have laid eggs. The testes 

of a male were in optimum breeding condition. 

Nine specimens were collected in late August and 

September, from LaVeta, Durango, and Norwood. 

Four were juveniles. The crop walls of three of the 

adults showed various stages of retrogressive milk 

cells. Egg follicles were all less than one-eighth inch 

[<3 mm] in diameter. The testes in the one adult 

male were less than half the size of the normal breeding conditions. 
Name of Section 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 33

Nest Construction 

On 13 May 1955, while I was walking along our 

tractor road at 5:30 AM, a bandtail, presumed to be 

the male, few low along the same road below the 

forest crown. One loud buzz was given by this male 

and shortly another, presumed to be the female, 

came along the road hopping from tree to tree as if 

searching for a nesting site. The male took a high 

perch nearby, looked around intently for a while, then 

preened and remained alert. About 10 minutes later 

he clapped his wings together for a short fight down 

the forest interior and the female, about 30 yards (27 

m) from him, few to another fr. He then gave short 

low purring calls at three- to eight-second intervals 

for about ten minutes. He joined the female and all 

was quiet for 15 minutes. Loud cooing by the male 

followed; he few in short hops through the trees and 

the female followed shortly. Low purring by the male 

then began again while she preened. Short buzzes 

were heard later. No nest building actually occurred 

here this morning, nor did any feeding. This lent 

support to the supposition that the pair were searching for a nest site. 

Between 5:20 and 6:15 PM on 27 May, another pair 

was observed fying from perch to perch in the forest 

understory in another section of the island. The male 

in this case would give short purring calls of the sort 

heard on 13 May and also appeared to lead the female. The observer presumed this to be an effort to 

infuence her to fnd a nesting site. There was billing 

as the pair sat closely on several occasions for short 

periods when not futtering through the trees. A nest 

was built in this immediate area within a week of this 

observation. 

An actual sequence of nest construction was observed starting on 14 May 1953. As I was coming out 

of the cabin at 5:15 AM, a pair of bandtails fushed 

from some willow (Salix spp.) trees about 20 yards 

(18 m) away. Examination of one willow tree disclosed a few twigs on a several-pronged crotch of the 

trunk, apparently the beginning of a pigeon nest. 

Rather than frighten the pair further this day, I left 

the area. On 15 May, the female was observed trying 

the nest platform with her body, then she and the 

male left for feeding areas. The next day I remained 

inside the cabin having an excellent view of the nest 

site about 50 feet (15 m) away. At 5:00 AM the female 

landed in the willow tree above the nest, which was 

about 6 feet (2 m) from the ground. She dropped 

down to the nest at 5:05 AM and with her bill and 

movement of her body began arranging the twigs. At 

5:06 AM the male arrived carrying a twig in his bill. 

The female raised her wings slightly to form somewhat of a platform and the male stepped onto her 

back. The twig was then dropped over and in front of 

the female’s head, landing on the nest platform. The 

male stepped off the female and few to a Douglas-fr 

some 40 feet (12 m) away. The female then picked up 

the twig and worked it into the other nest twigs. 

While she was doing this, the male was attempting to 

break off dead twigs 5 to 15 feet (1.5–4.5 m) from the 

ground in a nearby Douglas-fr. Some twigs would 

not break but he would soon fnd one that would snap 

off, then he few quickly back to the nest. Again he 

mounted the female with half-raised wings and from 

this point on the twigs were either grasped by her 

or dropped in front on the forming platform. Twigs 

were brought by the male to the nest until 5:50 AM. 

The female continued to arrange the twigs and to 

turn around in the center of the nest until 6:35 AM, 

when the male started bringing twigs again. Twigs 

were brought until 7:00 AM when the male cooed 

softly from near the nest. The female had not left the 

nest since frst arriving that morning. 

At 7:20 AM the male few to a perch above the nest 

and peered down at the female, after which he 

resumed bringing twigs until 7:45 AM. At one point 

in delivering a twig the male froze on the back of the 

female as a northwestern crow (Corvus caurinus) 

called nearby. At 7:58 AM the female stepped off the 

nest and few from the nest tree; then both left for 

their morning feeding. 

The following morning on 17 May, the female arrived at 4:55 AM and began shaping the nest. The 

male joined her shortly and mounted on her back. 

No twigs were brought this frst time and he looked 

down over her shoulder, then stepped off and few 

to a nearby tree. Low cooing was heard from him 

at 5:05 AM and at 5:25 AM, during which time he 

was bringing twigs to the nest. It was noticed that 

when the male stepped off the female’s back she 

would each time give short quivers with her wings. 

Although he mounted the female while at the nest, 

no copulation was observed here in the several days 

of nest building. When the male was slow in bringing twigs, the female on the nest pumped her head 

up and down and emitted short purring buzz calls. 

Usually the male wasn’t long in bringing more twigs 

following the nest action and the insistent calls of the 

female. 

Nest Construction 33 
34 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cooing by the male on the fourth day of nest building 

was heard increasingly in the early morning. A total 

of 23 twigs was delivered to the female up to 7:40 AM 

and the female continued to work on intertwining the 

nest twigs. At 8:30 AM the female watched the male 

fy east overhead, then she walked off the nest and 

also few away. 

The male brought 21 twigs on the ffth day to the 

female between 4:45 and 7:42 AM. Twigs were 

broken off fve different Douglas-frs surrounding 

the nest site. The female left the nest at 7:43 AM, 

and a check of the nest at 4:30 PM revealed no bird 

on the nest. At 5:30 PM the female was standing 

on the nest and one egg was visible. She was not 

covering the egg at this time; at 6:30 PM she was, 

and she remained on the nest through the night. The 

observed construction period amounted to fve days 

in building the nest. 

A second chance to observe bandtails building a 

nest occurred on 22 June 1955, while I was working 

in New Mexico for the Department of Game and 

Fish. This is a separate pigeon population distinct 

from the Pacifc Coast areas of California, Oregon, 

Washington, and British Columbia, but the basic 

similarities of pigeons’ nest construction were 

substantiated. At 8:15 AM in the Animas Mountains, 

Indian Creek Canyon, Hidalgo County, a bandtail 

was seen 150 yards (137 m) up a slope fying away 

from several oak trees. I climbed the hill slowly to 

within 75 yards (69 m) of the trees and then began 

to hear the spitting of buzz-like calls characteristic 

of the female at the nest. The calls were repeated 

every few seconds until the male arrived at the 

nest, mounted her back upon her raised wings, and 

released a twig. At 8:45 AM the male few from the 

nest tree, a netleaf oak (Quercus rugosa), and the 

female soon followed. She few northwest towards 

the oak feeding areas about a mile (1.6 km) distant, 

followed by the male in a semi-futter fight. Some 

futter fights, cooing, and fghting among males had 

occurred earlier in the morning in this area. 

Upon close examination, the nest was noted to be 

about seven feet (2.1 m) off the ground, nestled 

among the oak branches. It contained approximately 

15 twigs carried to the nest this morning by the male. 

The twigs were all under one-fourth inch (6 mm) in 

diameter. A blind for taking photographs was set up 

immediately about 20 yards (18 m) from the nest. 

A return to the nest on the following morning at 7:30 

AM showed the male trying to break off a twig from 

a nearby oak, unsuccessfully. He seemingly was 

not trying very hard for at 7:35 AM he clapped his 

wings together, gave one loud buzz and went down 

the canyon toward the feeding area. The female soon 

walked off the nest and followed him. An additional 

22 twigs had been added to the nest before 7:30 AM. 

No more observations of the nest were made until 

18 July, at which time it was calculated that a squab 

would be present. 

Pictures were taken from inside and outside of the 

blind between 7:30 and 8:00 PM with the female 

on the nest. She did not fush even when telephoto 

equipment was as close as eight yards (7.3 m) of her. 

During the photograph taking period, the male few 

overhead giving a raspy buzz in futter fight. The 

female was fushed from the nest and a squab 3 to 4 

days old was revealed. The cripple act was given by 

the female in her effort to decoy the observer from 

the nest. 

One of the earliest references found in literature to 

the actual building methods of the band-tailed pigeon 

nest is an article by Michael (1929): 

On 3 August 1928, a pair of band-tailed 

pigeons (Columba [Patagioenas] fasciata) was 

discovered at work on a nest. The nest was 

placed on a horizontal branch of an incense 

cedar [Calocedrus decurrens]. It was some 

20 feet [6 m] above the ground and but a few 

inches [>8 cm] from the main stem of the tree. 

As is the usual case when we fnd the nest of 

a pigeon, our attention was frst attracted by 

the sound of snapping twigs. The band-tailed 

pigeon gathers no nesting material from the 

ground. The male fies into a tree, usually a 

living cedar here in the valley, takes a perch, 

and gazes about in search of a suitable twig. 

While making up his mind as to just which 

twig he really wants, he has a strange way of 

bobbing his head. He draws his head back 

deliberately and then jabs it forward with a 

quick, jerky movement. When he decides on 

the dead twig he wants he fies to the branch, 

walks slowly out along the limb, leans over, 

grasps the twig frmly in his mandibles and 

with a quick twist of his head the twig is 

snapped off. Now with a great clatter of wings 

he fies to the nest tree. If the limb containing 

the nest-site is limber, he does not alight 

directly upon it but comes to perch above or 

below and approaches the nest by a series of 

“fight hops.” While the male is out foraging 

for nesting material, the female waits more or 

less patiently at the nest site. She received the 

material from her mate and does the actual 

work of construction. And between the two, if 

the truth must be known, the nest is no work 

of art. 

On 9 August the nest was apparently complete, 

but there was as yet no egg. On 17 August, 

when the tree was again climbed, the female 

was incubating. She was reluctant to leave 

the nest, and it was not until I had approached 

within 10 feet [3 m] of her that she began to 

show signs of nervousness. She stood up and 

craned her neck and fnally decided to move. 

There resting in a cradle of twigs was the one 

large, white egg. The owner of the egg stood 

on a limb a few feet [1 m] away and bobbed 

her head in a strange, nervous manner, but 
Name of Section 

 

 

 

 35

she was apparently not particularly frightened 

and held her ground until I left the tree. 

Nothing was seen of the male bird. The nest 

construction period between 3 and 9 August 

amounted to approximately six days. 

Willard (1916) described nest building in the 

Huachuca Mountains of Arizona, which differed 

considerably from the nest construction procedure 

observed on Eliza Island and in the Animas 

Mountains of southern New Mexico. His description 

was that nest building was conducted only in the 

morning hours from sunrise to about 8:00 AM, almost 

entirely by the female, and that she proceeded in 

a most lackadaisical manner. It is presumed that 

the male brought the twigs to the female although 

this was not mentioned by Willard. The period of 

building the nest stated by Willard was six days 

from the placing of the frst twig to the laying of the 

frst egg. Seemingly, four to six days would be about 

average for the nest building sequence of the bandtail 

pigeons. 

Similarities between band-tailed pigeon methods 

of searching for a nest site and that of the extinct 

passenger pigeon are interesting. Schorger (1955) 

states: 

The captive passenger pigeons of C. O. 

Whitman when ready to select a place for a 

nest, stretched their heads forward, raised 

their wings, and moved them slightly. They 

few several times against the wire of their 

cage, and seemed to wish to get out in order to 

fnd a new place for a nest. ... 

Two days later these passenger pigeons 

were very active, but not yet decided where 

to place the nest. The male was especially 

active, taking the lead in the search. He kept 

alighting on a small tree enclosed in their large 

pen, and here he would put down his head 

and call the female. I repeatedly saw this pair 

fying about in search for a nesting place. I 

note too, that when the male few back and 

forth he called to his mate while on the wing. 

A pair in the Zoological Society’s Gardens, 

London, spent three or four days in selecting a 

building site in a fr tree. 

Peeters (1962) presents fairly recent bandtail nest 

construction data from his California study area near 

Berkeley: 

The following evidence suggests the male 

selects the nest tree. The nest building of 

pair P1 was observed on 30 May 1961. At 4:07 

PM, the male drove the female in a semicircle 

toward a particular tree in the redwood 

(Sequoia sempervirens) grove; then both birds 

rested, perched close together. Suddenly the 

male arose and few off but turned at once 

and alighted again in the same tree, about 15 

feet [4.6 m] beneath the female. He walked 

back and forth four times on the limb he had 

alighted on, and then broke off a small dead 

twig with his bill. The bird then hopped up 

the tree from limb to limb, spiraling the trunk. 

After the male had climbed in this fashion 

about seven feet [2.1 m], the female, which had 

watched him intently, few down and perched 

three feet [0.9 m] from him. The male walked 

toward her and presented the twig, which 

she accepted. She then put down the twig 

awkwardly, simply placing it at the junction of 

the limb and two smaller side branches. The 

male broke off another twig, which the female 

also accepted and placed on the limb. The 

male now brought a twig from a neighboring 

tree, then another, both of which the female 

promptly incorporated into the small platform. 

The male then stopped and wiped his bill on 

the limb he was perched on. He cooed twice, 

and strutted toward the female, which took to 

the wing. The male followed her at once, and 

both birds few out of sight. 

No further nest building was observed until 1 

June, when the female was seen at 5:17 PM, 

adding more twigs to the platform. On 2 June, 

at 6:30 AM, there was one egg in the nest. 

Peeters determined the interval between the 

beginning of nest construction and the appearance 

of the egg on 2 June was three days. This is 

the shortest nest-building time reported to my 

knowledge. It was of further interest to note 

that no mention was made of the male mounting 

the female’s back to deliver the nest twigs as was 

observed on Eliza Island, Washington, and in the 

Animas Mountains of New Mexico. Others who have 

witnessed the actual bandtail nest-building sequence, 

including Willard (1916), Michael (1929), and Kitchin 

as quoted in Bent (1932:354), make no mention of the 

nest ritual of the male presenting the twigs from the 

female’s back. 

Some close similarity in nest construction and the 

ritual of the bandtails as compared to the male and 

female passenger pigeons is shown by Schorger 

(1955): 

The male brought all the nesting material, one 

piece at a time in his bill, to the female who 

performed all the labor of construction. The 

male mounted on the back of the female and 

placed the stick or straw in front of her, this 

being apparently the most convenient way to 

receive it. 

Skutch (1956), in reference to nesting of the ruddy 

ground dove (Columbina talpacoti), reported: “The 

male came twice more with one straw each time and 

stood on the female’s back while he laid it in front of 

her; when she was present, he always stood upon her 

Nest Construction 35 
36 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

to deposit the material.” Doves in the Columbidae 

normally pick up their nest material from the ground, 

and the true pigeons break twigs from branches of 

trees. Skutch (1956) lists the following pigeons found 

primarily south of the United States which break 

twigs or inforescence from high in trees for their 

nest construction: red-billed pigeon (Patagioenas 

favirostris), short-billed pigeon (P. nigrirostris), and 

scaled pigeon (P. speciosa). 

Nest building of the now extinct passenger pigeon is 

described by Schorger (1955): “In building, according 

to J. B. Oviatt, they merely few up and down from 

the ground.” This refers to the passenger pigeon 

picking up twigs or other nest material from the 

ground and carrying it to the nest. 

Considering that the total body length of the bandtail ranges in adults between 12 to 15 inches (30–38 

cm), the nest size, including protruding twigs, often 

measured in diameter the approximate length of the 

birds. Grinnell et al. (1918) cite a nest measuring 9 

inches by 4 inches (23 x 10 cm), exclusive of protruding twigs. Glover (1953) reports nest measurements 

as outside diameter 7 to 8 inches (18–20 cm); inside 

diameter, 5 inches (13 cm); bowl depth, 1.3 inches (3 

cm); and thickness under the bowl as 2.1 inches (5 

cm). 

The nest twigs are intertwined by the female and 

with the raised nodules or projections on each 

twig they tend to bind the nest together quite well. 

Although many small gaps remain, there are rarely 

those through which the eggs can fall. Neff (1947) 

stated that nests observed by him near Nogales, Arizona in 1939 and 1940 were so fragile in appearance 

as to cause one to wonder how eggs and young could 

remain in them. Eggs can be accidentally knocked 

from the nest as a parent may be forced to fy hurriedly from the nest. The squab grasps the woven 

twigs with its toes to keep from falling out. 

Glover (1953) states of the fve nests he found in 

northwestern California: 

... all of the nests observed were typically fragile and amounted to little more than a crude, 

loose collection of twigs and forest litter to 

form a shallow platform. It was diffcult to determine if moss had been added intentionally 

to some of the nests for probably many of the 

twigs used already had moss on their surfaces 

before being utilized as nest material. 

No nesting material other than twigs was found in 

the Eliza Island nests, except for a stray leaf or two. 

Normally the bandtail walks on and off the nest 

rather than alighting from fight when incubating and 

brooding. Skutch (1956) summarizes the approach 

and departure for what could represent most of the 

Columbidae nests: 

When approaching or leaving the nest, ruddy 

ground doves do not fy directly to or from it in 

the manner of hummingbirds and other very 

small birds with well-made nests and minute 

control of their fight. On the contrary, when 

coming to the nest they usually alight on a 

branch a foot [0.3 m] or more away and walk to 

it. Similarly, when leaving, they carefully step 

from the nest and walk out along the supporting limb before taking wing. In this fashion 

they are less likely to knock or shake the egg 

from the shallow nest. It is only when alarmed 

that they fy directly from the eggs. 

On Eliza Island, pigeon nests were not normally 

exposed to direct winds, which could dislodge eggs 

or young. MacGregor and Smith (1955), working in 

California, received personal reports and surmised 

during their nesting studies that fimsily-constructed 

nests caused losses of eggs and squabs when associated with exposure to high winds. It must be accepted that high winds can raise havoc to young and could 

cut into the pigeons’ breeding potential when nesting 

is in open foliage type trees such as pines and oaks. 

The number of twigs in a nest may be small when 

it is built on a larger dense fr bough. Twigs in the 

nests found on Eliza Island varied in number from 

100 to 143 per nest (Figures 5 and 6). The nest found 

in New Mexico in 1955, in a netleaf oak, contained 80 

twigs. Twigs in most nesting situations are dead or 

brittle enough to be broken by the male and within 

a radius of 50 feet (15.2 m) of the nest. One nest on 

Eliza Island in 1953, built some 55 feet (16.8 m) up in 

a Douglas-fr, had twigs broken off for distances of 2 

to 4 feet (0.6–1.2 m) surrounding the nest. No twigs 

were ever picked off the ground in the two closelywatched nest building sequences that I watched. 

Only one late-nesting pair of pigeons of the 136 active 

and inactive nests found and plotted in detail at the 

Eliza Island study area (Table 6) built their nest upon 

the platform of an old nest. None of twenty active 

nests located in 1952 was used a second time that 

year, even though the nests were not removed for 

scat analyses until late September. The thirty active 

nests observed in 1953 were left in their original locations and no pigeons nested a second time in any of 

these. Nesting twice in a nest has occurred, but can 

be considered the exception to the general rule. 

MacGregor and Smith (1955) reported multiple nesting by a pair of band-tail pigeons using the same nest 

between 1951 and 1955 that brought off three broods 

in 1954. In an almost domestic situation, this nest is 

opposite the Carmel, California, police station in an 

acacia (Acacia spp.) tree between the sidewalk and 

the street. 

Tree species and frequency of use by bandtails for 

136 active and nonactive nests located on Eliza Island 

during 1952–1953 were 84 Douglas-fr, 28 grand fr, 15 

red cedar, 4 Pacifc yew (Taxus brevifolia), 3 willow, 
Name of Section 

 

 

 37

1 alder, and 1 dwarf maple (Rocky Mountain maple, 

Acer glabrum) (Table 6). Most (131) nests were 

placed in conifers, amounting to 96% of the located 

nests. Conifers were amply scattered throughout the 

various forest growth on the island. On the nearby 

islands of Vendovi and Lummi, where fve more nests 

were located, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and 

ocean spray (Holodiscus discolor) bushes also were 

used as nesting sites. 

Popular species of trees used by bandtails for nesting 

in other states include a variety of oaks and various 

species of pines. Other observers reported nests in 

mulberry (Morus spp.) trees, Sitka spruce (Picea 

sitchensis), and one in a California lilac (Ceanothus 

thyrsiforus) (Neff 1947). Neff also mentioned yellow 

pines, Douglas-fr, and lodgepole pines as being used 

in Colorado. Nesting tree preferences in California 

include reports by Grinnell et al. (1918) that most 

of 17 nests were in oaks; by Glover (1953) that of 

eight nests in northwestern California, three were 

in conifers; by MacGregor and Smith (1955) that 62 

percent or 33 nests near Monterey, California, were 

in conifers, Monterey pine (Pinus radiata), and the 

others in acacia, coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), 

and hawthorn. Hansen (1942) discovered a nest in 

a redwood (Sequoia gigantea) in the Sierra Nevada 

range of California and Peeters (1962) notes that in 9 

of 10 nests studied near Berkeley, California, conifers 

were chosen. Rowley (1934) reports one nest 20 feet 

(6 m) up in a redwood west of San Andreas Lake in 

California. 

A curious situation was noted in 1953 in the Eliza 

Island studies upon revisiting each of the previous 

year’s nesting sites. All actively-concluded nests 

had been removed for scat analysis in 1952 and the 

trees marked with plastic tags for future identifcation. Two nests were in the exact trees and precise 

crotches of limbs in 1953 in which two 1952 nests had 

been. Hypothetically, one might presume this was 

the same pair that used the nest tree the previous 

year, but there was no proof. Two pigeons banded 

in 1952 on Eliza were recaptured at the same spot in 

1953, indicating some pigeons probably have tendencies to return to favorite nesting sites. MacGregor 

and Smith (1955) described the 1951–1955 nesting 

of a pair at the same nest each year. Adding further 

credence to this phenomenon, Neff (1947) reported 

E. A. Kitchin of Washington stated that bandtails 

were very fond of their old nesting areas and would 

come back year after year to the same limb even 

though the previous nests had been disturbed. 

Neff (1947) reported: 

Kitchin records second nests built on the same 

spot where an earlier nest of the current season had been robbed or destroyed, and cites 

one instance of a nest from which he collected 

the egg being followed by a second nest on the 

same site from which he again took the egg; 

later in the season he found in the same place a 

third nest that he left intact. 

R. J. Niedrach, Denver Museum of Natural History, 

observed of Clyde P. Matteson, “that at least three of 

the active nests found by him this year were within 

approximately sixty yards (55 m) of nests found in 

previous years.” His suggested correlation of birds 

returning to favorite nesting sites is obvious when 

the discussion is considered for Washington, California, and Colorado. Emphasis in a nesting study 

should be placed upon areas where pigeons have 

previously nested since the conclusion is that the 

birds will return the following year unless something 

drastic occurs to prevent it. Finding bandtail nests, 

normally diffcult to locate, can be simplifed by 

this approach and more needed and interesting life 

history data recorded in a shorter research period. 

Generally, bandtail nests are not placed at the tops 

of trees nor at extreme edges of limbs, consequently 

nests positioned in the tree interior can withstand 

high winds and other inclement weather conditions. 

Placement of 136 nests on Eliza Island in reference 

to the tree trunks showed 84 nests constructed away 

from the trunk, many a matter of a few inches (>9 

cm), several up to 12 feet (3.7 m) and one 20 feet (6.1 

m) out. The remaining nests were on a crotch at the 

trunk. The diameter of the trunk, fve feet (1.5 m) 

from the ground, in 136 nest trees, ranged from 2 to 

38 inches (5–97 cm). 

Average height for the 136 nests was 35 feet (11.0 

m), with a minimum of 3 feet (0.9 m) and a maximum 

of 95 feet (29.0 m) (Table 6). A few ground nests or 

nests on stumps have been reported (Neff 1947) but 

these are certainly the exception to the norm. The 

33 nests reported by MacGregor and Smith (1955) 

ranged in height from 12 to 95 feet (3.7–29.0 m), with 

an average of 36 feet (11 m). Glover (1953) in his 

northwestern California nesting study concerning 

eight nests, gives heights from six feet (1.8 m) to 150 

feet (45.7 m), with the others tallied at 7, 8, 15, 15, 

20, and 30 feet (2.1, 2.4, 4.6, 4.6, 6.1, and 9.1 m). Neff 

(1947), citing Grinnell et al. (1918), reported that 

most of the nests in California were in oaks at heights 

of 8 to 30 feet (2.4–9.1 m). 

The closely related Vioscae’s pigeon is resident in 

the mountains of the Cape Region of Baja California 

according to the Check-List of North American Birds 

(AOU 1957). Similarities in bandtail nesting are 

reported by Lamb (1926): 

The majority of the numerous nests I examined were in live-oak trees, usually situated on 

the forks of the larger horizontal limbs, and 

placed from 10 to 20 feet [3.0–6.1 m] above the 

ground. Some nests were also found placed 

among the smaller branches and near their extremities, but this was exceptional. A very few 

nests were found in a small species of whiteoak tree that grows on the hillsides. This oak 

is peculiar in that in the dry season the leaves 

turn brown and appear dead, but a few days 

after the frst rain, the leaves gradually grow 

green again. 

Nest Construction 37 
38 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

There are a few pine trees, mostly pinyons, 

scattered among the oaks in some parts, but 

only in one instance did I fnd a pigeon’s nest in 

a pine. This was a well-built nest six feet [1.8 

m] above the ground, against the trunk where 

a horizontal limb grew out. One nest was 

found on a frond of a leaning fan palm (Washingtonia flifera) tree. The nest is as a rule 

carelessly made, of a few coarse twigs, with no 

nest lining. 

Bent (1932) reports: 

A nest collected for me by W. W. Brown, in 

the Sierra de la Laguna, on 14 June 1913, 

containing one egg, was described as a frail 

platform-like structure of sticks, built near 

the extremity of a branch, in a pine tree about 

40 feet [12.2 m] from the ground. An egg in 

the United States National Museum, taken by 

Mr. A. Frazar, near Pearce’s Ranch, on 18 July 

1887, was presented by Mr. Brewster; it was 

taken from a nest composed of a few sticks, 18 

feet [5.5 m] up, on a broken upright branch of a 

giant cactus. 

One egg seems to be the almost invariable 

rule with Viosca’s pigeon. If two eggs are ever 

laid, it must be very rarely, for in more than 25 

nests examined by Mr. Lamb and 8 or 10 by 

Mr. Brown, only one egg or young was found. 

The egg is pure white, like that of the bandtailed pigeon. The measurements of 25 eggs 

average 39.7 by 27.5 mm [1.6 by 1.1 inches]; the 

eggs showing the four extremes measure 43.2 

by 28.5, 41.4 by 29.9, 36.7 by 26.9, and 38.1 by 

26.4 mm [1.7 by 1.1, 1.6 by 1.2, 1.4 by 1.1, and 

1.5 by 1.0 inches]. 
Name of Section 39

Clutch Size 

The 60 nests studied by W. H. Bohl on Eliza Island 

or nearby islands, two in New Mexico and one in 

Chihuahua, Mexico, all had evidence of either one 

egg or one squab only. Previous research workers on 

Eliza Island recorded one nest containing two eggs 

which was subsequently deserted (Oregon Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit feld notes). 

A search of the literature reveals that usually the 

band-tailed pigeon lays only one egg to a nest but 

that two eggs are sometimes found. Neff (1947:12) 

cites reports by several competent observers of 

two-egg nests in California, Oregon, Arizona, New 

Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. One observer in the 

Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona noted several nests 

containing a half-grown squab and one egg. Another observer in the Tumacacori Range northwest 

of Nogales, Arizona located 56 bandtail nests, 11 of 

which contained two eggs. During a 1952–1955 bandtailed pigeon nesting study by the California Fish 

and Game Department, MacGregor and Smith (1955) 

noted that of twenty-six nests observed, 25 contained 

one egg or one squab and one nest contained two 

eggs. 

The bandtail egg is pure white, shaped elliptically 

ovate and slightly pointed. The shell is smooth with 

a glossy texture. Bendire (1892:124) lists fve eggs 

measuring 40.1 by 27.9, 41.1 by 27.9, 41.1 by 28.7, 42.7 

by 26.4, and 42.9 by 27.7 mm (1.6 x 1.1, 1.6 x 1.1, 1.6 

x 1.1, 1.7 x 1.0, and 1.7 x 1.0 inches). Bent (1932:356) 

lists the measurements of 19 eggs, which averaged 

39.7 by 27.9 mm (1.6 x 1.1 inches). He further states 

“the eggs showing the four extremes measure 43.5 by 

30.0, 39.3 by 30.2, and 36.8 by 25.9 mm (1.7 x 1.2, 1.5 x 

1.2, and 1.4 x 1.0 inches).” 

Clutch Size 39 
40 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

Nesting Chronology 

The number of days required to bring bandtail eggs 

to hatching includes periods of approximately four 

to six days spent searching for a nest site, four to six 

days spent building the nest and laying one egg with 

18 to 20 days for incubation of the egg. Taking the 

average number of days for the preparation of the 

nest to the hatching point amounts to 29 days. 

Brooding time and the period after which the adults 

stop brooding the squab until it can fy from the nest 

as shown in the Eliza Island studies ranged from 26 

to 30 days. On average the squab leaves the nest 28 

days after the egg has hatched. 

Calculating the approximate number of days for the 

entire nesting period beginning with searches for the 

nest site through incubation and brooding until the 

squab leaves the nest amounts to 57 days. Therefore, 

if the date a squab leaves the nest is known, the approximate date nesting commenced may be obtained 

by subtracting 57 days from this known end date. 

In two years of study on Eliza Island, the frst squab 

left the nest on 27 June in 1952 and 15 June in 1953. 

Using the above average 57-day-cycle to fedge a 

bandtail squab, it is reasoned the frst nesting occurred after 20 April and 3 May in 1952 and 1953, 

respectively. 

Considering that the frst adult bandtails migrating from the south to Eliza Island in Puget Sound, 

Washington arrived on 9 April 1952 and 2 April 1953, 

the number of days between these frst arrivals and 

the estimated nest searching period amounts to approximately 17 to 21 days, respectively. This period 

or interval is seemingly spent searching for feeding 

and water locations along with preliminary courting 

and pairing antics. 
Name of Section 

 

 41

Incubation 

The crude twig nest of the bandtail causes one at frst 

to wonder how the adults keep the egg warm during 

incubation. From close observation it has been noted 

that adults are careful in working the breast feathers around and under the egg, leaving only a small 

portion exposed on the bottom. Having a body temperature between 108 to 109 °F (42–43 °C) further 

helps the adults in incubating an egg placed in its 

airy, twig-frame nest. Periodically the egg is worked 

under the breast feathers by the birds. 

The frst documentation on Eliza Island of the exact 

number of days of incubation was missed when avian 

harassment caused one particular nest desertion. On 

the 15th day of observation, this nest contained one 

egg with a well-formed embryo, obviously within a 

few days of hatching. A second nest (#17) in 1953 

was documented from the time of the adults’ search 

for the nest site, building of the nest, approximate 

laying date of the egg, and hatching. Due to slight 

doubt as to whether the egg was laid on 23 or 24 

June, the incubation period has been classifed in this 

case as either 18 or 19 days. 

Bendire (1892) states that “incubation lasts from 18 

to 20 days, both sexes assisting.” MacGregor and 

Smith (1955) reported the bandtail incubation period 

averaged 19 days. 

Eliza Island studies, MacGregor and Smith’s (1955) 

study in California, and records of earlier observers 

indicate that incubation normally is undertaken by 

the female at night and the male assumes the duties 

during the daytime hours. Considerable variation 

has been observed as to the exact time of day that the 

male replaces the female in the early morning hours 

and when the female replaces the male in the afternoon or early evening. Feeding schedules involving 

availability of food for nesting partners and nesting 

enthusiasm of both adults are variables that seemingly alter nest partner replacements during the 

incubation and brooding periods. 

Observations during incubation of one pair of 

bandtails on Eliza Island in May 1953, (nest #6) are 

mentioned to illustrate the actions of adult pigeons 

on and off the nest. The one egg of this particular 

nest was laid in late afternoon of 18 May in a willow 

tree just outside the island’s guest cabin. On 19 May, 

observations from the cabin started at 4:00 AM. The 

female was present on the nest, having remained 

on overnight. At 4:05 AM the male cooed nearby 

and the female answered him several times with low 

short purring buzzes. The female had the egg well 

covered and did some feather preening, but was very 

watchful. Between 4:20 and 5:07 AM the male cooed 

fve different times, answered each time by purring 

calls from the female. At 5:01 AM the female purred 

and at 5:12 AM the male landed on the main limb 

used to approach the nest. The female then stood up, 

walked off the nest and few to a nearby tree. Immediately the male walked onto the nest and took about 

three minutes arranging himself over the egg. When 

the egg was satisfactorily tucked under the male, he 

worked his body down low onto the nest. He faced 

away from the entrance branch while the female had 

faced it. At 5:30 AM the female purred from a tree 

nearby while the male looked alertly around but otherwise remained quiet. At 6:45 AM the male turned 

around on the nest and half stood for 15 minutes. At 

7:00 AM he again turned around this time facing the 

main entrance branch. The egg was carefully worked 

under his body. At 7:55 AM he appeared very drowsy 

and had his head drawn down onto his breast. 

Later the same day at 2:30 PM the male was noted 

facing southwest into a 25 to 35 mile (40–56 km)-anhour wind, but the surrounding trees helped shield 

the nest to a certain extent. Some of the wind gusts 

made the male lean forward and apparently grip the 

nest twigs. At 4:30 PM with the wind still blowing 

hard, the female landed in a maple tree over the nest, 

looked intently down at the nest, and at 4:35 PM 

dropped down through the willow tree onto a limb 

supporting the nest platform. The male stood up, 

walked off the nest and few into nearby woods after 

which the female settled immediately on the egg. At 

4:45 PM the female was facing into the wind, having 

tucked the egg under her feathers with her bill, and 

she remained incubating through the night. 

On 23 May, two days later, the following actions were 

noted for the same female between 4:00 and 4:50 AM: 

scratched her head with one foot; dug into her breast 

with bill several times, apparently scratching; got up 

and turned to a different angle on the nest using her 

head and bill to work the egg under her body and 

worked on nest twigs around the egg. At 4:50 AM 

she stood up and left the nest for almost 45 seconds, 

defecating nearby. The male cooed nearby at 5:05 

AM; the female from 5:15 to 6:00 AM picked at her 

neck and both underneath and on top of her wing. 

She then turned in a southwest direction, at a right 

angle to the north wind. She was drowsing at 6:15 

AM when the researcher inside the cabin lit a fre in 

the wood stove. The female displayed no notice of the 

Incubation 41 
42 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

 

 

smoke coming out of the chimney. At 7:15 AM the female spent about a minute working diligently on the 

lattice bottom of the nest below the egg. It appeared 

that she was trying to lessen the larger gaps in the 

twigs. Becoming restless, she faced northeast at 7:28 

AM and southwest at 7:34 AM; the male began his 

incubation duty at 8:12 AM. 

Incubation actions of the pair continued much the 

same until the 15th day when a crow attacked the 

female on the nest evidently causing the egg to be 

kicked out of the nest. Normally the pair would 

freeze in their movements when crows were calling 

nearby, but they were never observed to leave the 

nest in fright. The nest predation on the 15th was 

unobserved, but several tail feathers of the bandtail 

with bill creases indicated that the close-setting female was attacked on the nest by the crow. The crow 

apparently did not fnd the egg shell remains and the 

well-developed embryo on the ground beneath the 

tree since the contents were untouched. 

Peeters (1962), in his California study, reported times 

of morning nest changes for one particular male 

replacing the female ranged for 11 days between 

10:02 and 10:28 AM. The arrival of the female at the 

nest for the afternoon changes ranged from 4:17 to 

5:30 PM. Peeters recorded the detailed schedule of 

incubation for this pair and determined that the male 

over this 11-day observation period spent between 6 

hours 8 minutes and 7 hours 12 minutes each day incubating. The female observed for the same number 

of days spent between 16 hours 36 minutes and 17 

hours 38 minutes each day for incubation. 

Detailed observations on Eliza Island during incubation and brooding indicated adult bandtails do not 

defecate on their nests. The male may be on the nest 

for periods ranging from about seven hours to, rarely, 

11 hours, and the female may be on the nest from 15 

to 17 hours. Defecation does not occur in the nests 

during these incubation or brooding hours, but the 

male or female may leave for a minute or two for this 

duty, as has been observed, and then return immediately to the nest. The frst act of the adult coming off 

the nest at the nest change time is to defecate nearby. 

The exiting bird then quietly moves further from the 

nest area. After watching the area for a short time it 

then usually leaves for the feeding area. Squabs soil 

the nest along the outer periphery of the nest twigs 

but usually the squab’s excrement is from the nest. 

Efforts were made in the 1952–1953 Eliza Island 

studies to learn the deposition of the bandtail egg 

shells after hatching. Few egg shell remains were 

found inside the nest platform except an occasional 

piece that apparently slid down and became lodged 

in the twigs. Shell remains were found on the ground 

and around the immediate periphery of the nest and 

up to 30 yards (27 m) from the nest. 

It appears the adult bandtail removes the shells by 

either tossing the remains over the edge or by carrying the shells in their bills for a short distance from 

the nest, although this action was not witnessed. The 

shell remains found on the ground indicate by their 

size that they were tossed out of the nest. Had these 

large portions remained in the nest it is presumed it 

would have been only a short time before they would 

have been crushed and sifted as small pieces through 

the twigs, quite unlike the larger portions found on 

the ground. 

One deserted bandtail egg, presumed to be infertile, 

was found and examined on Eliza Island in 1952. 

This particular egg had been incubated by both 

adults for at least 13 days, as observed by W. H. Bohl, 

but the number of days of incubation prior to its 

discovery was unknown. On the 13th day of observed 

incubation, the female was missing from the nest 

early in the morning. The male came to the platform 

at 08:05 AM, cooed, and then left the nest and its 

single egg. Examination of the egg revealed the fuid 

contents of the yolk and albumen had blended, probably because of heat and assumed lack of fertility. 

Although other nests contained deserted eggs, this 

was the only one to exhibit the blended yolk-albumen 

condition. 

A personal letter from A. F. Skutch (21 July 1956) 

gives his detailed observations concerning a pair 

of pigeons at a nest he found on 13 March 1933 in 

Guatemala: 

I made observations on this nest on four days. 

On 17 March the male was on the nest when 

I arrived at 9:00 AM and he sat continuously 

until his mate replaced him at 4:00 PM. On 18 

March, the male was already on the nest when 

I came at 8:40 AM. I did not watch continuously that day, but at 3:30 PM, I saw the female 

replace him and she stayed until dark. On 19 

March, I made a continuous all-day watch. 

The female was sitting at daybreak. At 6:20 

AM she left, apparently to avoid soiling the 

nest, and returned a minute later, staying until 

her mate replaced her at 8:23 AM. He sat 

without a break until 3:57 PM when the female 

replaced him on the egg. She stayed until 

nightfall. Next morning, 20 March, the female 

stayed on the egg until her mate relieved her 

at 8:31 AM, except for an absence of oneminute from 6:13 to 6:14 AM. I left after the 

male began his long day session. Since the 

female’s absences in the early morning were 

too brief for foraging, I inferred that she went 

off to leave her droppings at a distance, and 

possibly to stretch her wings. There was no 

ceremony when one pigeon replaced the other 

on the nest. They sat motionless for long periods, rarely shifting their position and seldom 

turning the egg. Except when alarmed, they 

kept their necks contracted, head between the 

shoulders, and bill turned to the left. 
Name of Section 43

These pigeons were very canny, not taking 

alarm at some noise or movement in their 

vicinity, but seeming to make an intelligent appraisal of each possible threat to their security 

before they acted. Distant noises were mostly 

disregarded by them, except when very loud 

and sharp. Sounds from the nearer source 

caused them to stretch up their necks and 

survey the situation. If the noise became more 

alarming, they rose up on the nest and prepared to take fight. If it was only a horse or 

cow that wandered beneath them, they settled 

down again, and slowly, very slowly, their necks 

contracted and their heads turned to its usual 

orientation, leftward. Thrice while I watched 

men walk beneath the nest without frightening 

away the sitting bird, which raised its head, 

took in the situation, and decided to risk staying, since the trespasser did not look up at it. 

It may be of interest that in this pair the irises 

of both sexes were bright red, their bills yellow with black tips. The crescent on the back 

of the neck was pure white, bordered below 

by black. In the member of the pair which 

occupied the nest by night and evidently the 

female, this black region appeared more extensive, especially on the sides of the neck, then in 

the mate. The sides of the male’s neck were a 

beautiful iridescent green when the morning 

sunshine fell upon him through the needles of 

the pine tree. 

Incubation 43 
44 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

Brooding and Growth of Squab 

Caution was taken in the Eliza Island studies to avoid 

disturbing the adult occupant of any newly-located nest 

during both incubation and brooding periods except in 

two special cases. It was desired to have the adults complete as normal a nesting cycle as possible so that a valid 

nesting season could be plotted in both 1952 and 1953. 

A cautious check of the nest twice a day determined 

when brooding had ceased. These checks, within feldglass range of the nest, were made between 10:00 AM 

and 2:00 PM and at dusk or, in some cases, as late as 

8:00 PM. Cessation of brooding was recorded when 

the adults were not on the nest at one of the above time 

checks, but re-checks on the cessation were made to 

eliminate the possibility that this might not have been 

the actual termination. It was noted in some cases that 

after an interval of a day or so that adults might return 

for more brooding. 

Brooding was conducted by both adults with practically 

the same hours as during incubation; namely, males 

during the mid-daylight hours and females overnight. 

In most cases, brooding was concluded between the 

10th and 20th day with several extremes of cessation 

recorded between the sixth and ninth day. If very warm 

weather occurred during the active brooding period, the 

male would move from the squab, remaining on the edge 

of the nest, and would not hover it at all until the weather 

cooled. However, during this same weather, males would 

hover the squabs on nests in the forest interior where it 

was more dark and cool than at the exterior. 

Illustrating the sporadic type of brooding exercised by 

male bandtails, on 3 July 1952, a male came to its nest 

at 8:45 AM, fed the squab quickly, hovered it until 10:00 

AM, then left to fy toward the neighboring island where 

bandtails fed and watered. The squab was approximately 10 days old at this date. 

Another adult male in 1952 exhibited impatience to be 

relieved of his nest duties at a 3:50 PM nest change. 

The female had just arrived from Lummi Island and 

had landed some 50 yards (46 m) from the nest. Shortly 

afterwards the male stepped off the nest and took to 

the air, giving the futter fight and issuing several raspy 

buzzes. Concluding this short fight, he dropped into the 

forest crown and proceeded to chase the female to the 

nest. He then cooed from a nearby tree perch and at 

4:25 PM few toward his feeding and watering areas on 

Lummi Island or the northern mainland. This was the 

only observation of a male being so domineering in his 

action of hazing the female onto the nest. Quite possibly, 

other males going to their nest duties may have angered 

this particular male, hence the fights overhead, the futter fight, and the buzzes seemingly hazing the female to 

the nest platform. 

The female at the nest was much more attentive toward 

the squab then the male; she would often continue her 

brooding when nights were cool regardless of when the 

male stopped his brooding. Brooding by the female 

continued until some squabs were 10 to 15 days old and, 

in rarer cases, if not actual brooding, she would remain 

near the squab until it was approximately 26 to 27 days 

of age. A check was made every night on several nests 

to determine continuous or sporadic brooding. If the 

female was not present by 8:00 PM, it was concluded 

that she would not be with the squab for that particular 

night. Sometimes she did not appear one or two nights; 

occasionally for as many as 10 days or nights before 

resuming brooding. 

In one case the female continued nightly brooding until 

two days before the squab left the nest. On 15 August 

1953, a female was observed on a limb two feet (0.6 m) 

from a nest and squab at 7:30 PM just before dark. She 

had not been there at an earlier 5:30 PM check. At 8:00 

PM she was found at the nest with the squab which was 

estimated to be 27 days old. 

In another case, a female not at her nest at 7:15 PM 

was with the squab at 8:00 PM. This squab left its nest 

platform two days later, its age estimated at 24 days. 

The females’ attachment for the squab appears very 

close during all portions of the nesting cycle. This was 

mentioned in another study by Abbott (1927): 

While it was small the mother bird stayed near 

the nest, some- times sheltering the baby with her 

wings during the mid-day heat; but when it was 

about 10 days old she remained away from the 

nest for hours at a time. 

Some nests were found after the squab had hatched 

but still remained in the nest, making it necessary to 

develop an aging technique to more accurately ascertain 

the number of days from hatching to the squab’s exodus 

from the nest. Consequently, the aging of a squab in 

nest #B-17 (Tables 5 and 7) was documented by photographs and external measurements from its frst day of 

life, 12 July 1953, and every third day through its 19th 

day (Table 7, Figure 7). On the 22nd day the squab was 

so wary of the researcher it futtered off the nest to a 

nearby limb, precluding further measurements. This 

squab left the nest tree on 3 August, its 23rd day, for a 

nearby tree and was fed daily there by the adults. It 
Name of Section 

 

 

 

 

 

45

could not be located after 11 August by the observer. 

Had the squab not been handled, it probably would have 

left the nest between its 26th or 30th day of life, the 

normal time. 

The measurements of the squab (Table 7) indicate no 

readily visible pinfeathers were noted by the observer 

on the one-day old squab. Instead, whitish-yellow fuzzy 

down covered the squab at this age. At 10 days of age, 

primary feathers, including sheath, measured 1.3 and 

1.8 inches (3.2 and 4.5 cm), respectively, for the inner 

and outermost primaries. These same two primary 

feathers measured 2.8 and 3.5 inches (7.2 and 9.0 cm) on 

the squab’s 19th day of life. A majority of pin-feathers 

on the head were open at this age except for some at the 

base of the bill. Although it was impossible to measure 

the squab at 22 days of age, it was nevertheless observable that pinfeathers under the base of the bill were as 

yet unopened; most of the yellow down was gone from 

the body area and the bill was beginning to exhibit a dull 

yellow color at the base. 

Techniques used in documenting these data involved 

tree climbing hooks (3 inches [7.6 cm] hook length) and a 

lineman’s belt for tying the researcher into the nest tree. 

The nest was about 45 feet (13.7 m) up in a tall red cedar, 

against the trunk where it was supported by two limbs. 

Cameras were pulled up to the nest by a long cord for 

taking a sequence of periodic photographs, which began 

the day following hatching (Figure 7). 

The adults from this particular nest, #B-17 (Table 5), 

had to be fushed from their nest and squab in the early 

stages of brooding, and each time the cripple act was 

Figure 7. Band-tailed pigeon squab (#B-17) at about 1, 4, 10, 16, 19, and 22 days of age in the nest made of 

small sticks on the bough of a cedar tree located during the band-tailed pigeon study on Eliza Island, Washington, 1952–1953. 

Brooding and Growth of Squab 45 
46 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

 

 

given by the male. Photographs and measurements 

were taken each day between 2:00 and 4:30 PM, the 

period that the male was on the nest. When the nest 

tree was climbed on the frst day of the squab’s life, the 

male sat closely until I had worked to within about 15 

feet (4.6 m) of the nest. He then fushed over the side of 

the nest, down to within fve feet (1.5 m) of the ground, 

and moved to a low limb about 35 yards (32 m) away. He 

futtered his wings and tail in a very convincing cripple 

act for a short period on the limb and then fed overhead 

giving raspy buzzing calls. On another day the male let 

the observer climb to within six feet (1.8 m) of the nest 

before dropping to within a few feet (1 m) of the ground. 

The cripple display was given and was again a convincing 

exhibition with much futtering and jerkiness of fight. 

The observer previously had learned that the male 

bandtail cooed to the squab on its nest or from a nearby 

perch. This usually excited the squab, especially if it was 

about to be fed. Contrarily, it also appeared to calm the 

squab if feeding was not imminent. Imitating the cooing 

of the adult male, the observer would begin calling as 

he started to climb the nest tree. Upon reaching the 

nest he found the squab was usually calm, thus allowing 

easier handling of the bird for measurements. Pictures 

were always taken frst with a 3.25 by 4.25 inches (8.3 

by 10.8 cm) Super Grafex and, as a precaution against 

its failure, with a Bolsey 35 mm camera. Measurements 

(Table 7) were then taken; any other squabs measured 

at the nest were compared to this information to arrive 

at their approximate ages. Aging information was to 

be used ultimately for learning if bandtails raised two 

broods on Eliza Island during one nesting season. 

The following convenient method of measuring the wing, 

body and tail feathers of the squab was used. The squab 

was placed on its back in the palm of the observer’s 

left hand with the tail pointing away from the observer. 

With the index and third fnger of this hand, the left wing 

was spread open enabling measurement of the frst and 

tenth primaries. The thumb, fourth, and ffth fngers 

retained a frm but gentle grip over a sizable portion 

of the squab’s body. The hand itself was held against a 

tree branch or the observer’s body for steadiness and 

to give the squab a sense of support. The tail feathers 

were spread easily by the fngers to obtain their measurements and those body feathers desired. Adequate 

weighing scales were not available during this particular 

nest period and no weights were obtained of this squab. 

The squab, amid periodic cooing by the researcher, 

indicated it was ready to eat by its thin peeping calls and 

futtering of wings. Many times, although not fed, the 

squab would search hungrily between the researcher’s 

fngers for an expected meal. Regardless of the cooing, 

the squab was still suspicious of and belligerent towards 

the researcher, but it is felt the bird was handled with 

more ease through the use of the simulated pigeon calls. 

Some squabs that have not seen a human being until 

they are 10 to 20 days old may be excited and so wary of 

handling that they step backward off the nest and must 

be retrieved and replaced on the nest platform. Others 

are very belligerent and emit a sound like spitting, snapping their beaks, and failing their wings at any hand 

that attempts to pick them up. Although cooing helps 

slightly to calm this type of squab, they usually cannot 

be disturbed more than once or twice without falling 

from the nest. The head-cocking action typical of adult 

pigeons is exhibited by the squabs as young as seven 

days of age in a rather profcient manner. 

Measurements of other Eliza Island squabs compared 

with the age data (Table 7) indicate most left their nest 

areas between their 24th and 30th day of life. Some 

squabs left their nest platforms before this period, but 

careful scrutiny of nearby trees often disclosed the 

squab sitting immobile on a nearby tree limb. It seems 

reasonable to conclude that adults in this late nesting 

stage try to entice the squab to fy and leave the nest. 

Feeding does cause the squab to pursue the parent into 

a nearby tree for food when it is not completely ready to 

fy from the area to procure its own food. This can result 

in the situation of young bandtails sitting in trees near 

the nest site each day until they are ready to follow the 

adult. 

On 11 August, I had stationed myself near squab #B-17 

where it had been resting since it left the nest tree on 3 

August. At 6:55 AM the squab made a short fight to a 

red cedar branch about 25 yards (23 m) southeast of the 

nest. An adult bandtail, presumably the male, arrived 

from Lummi Island at 7:35 AM and made a slow circle 

over the squab and nest area. Suddenly the adult dived 

at express speed into the forest, narrowly missing the 

sitting squab. The squab fushed widely, but I could 

not follow its hurried fight. The male landed about 15 

feet (4.6 m) overhead, sat for fve minutes, defecated, 

and then few from the forest. This indicated to me the 

male’s way of making the fedgling fy and encouraging it 

to forage on its own. It certainly appeared this adult was 

not going to feed the 3l-day-old fedgling. The fedgling 

was not observed again in the usual nest area. 

As the period approached for squabs to leave the nest, 

males, in particular, would induce the fedglings to chase 

them through the trees further and further from the 

nest, an action that increased fying ability. The squab 

began simulated fight by standing on the nest, hanging 

onto the nest twigs with its toes, and failing its wings. 

Between the 15th and 20th day of its life it is able to fy 

and glide short distances from the nest. 

One squab (#B-17, Tables 5 and 7, Figure 7) left its 

nest on its 22nd day of life but remained in nearby trees 

eight more days. It was a fair but erratic fyer. Squabs 

seemingly preferred to be fed at the nest or in a nearby 

tree as long as the adults would tolerate the situation. 

Another squab (#B-24) left its nest when 24 days old 

and was last seen close to the nest on its 31st day of life, 

22 August 1953. At 6:15 AM on this date, the fedgling 

made a 35-yard (32 m) fight concluded by a very jerky 

landing on a maple limb. Teetering on the limb for a 

short time, the bird again few 35 yards (32 m) to another 

limb. At 7:00 AM it was still on this limb. It preened 

its feathers and cocked its head back and forth several 
Name of Section 

 

 

 

 47

times. At 2:00 PM it was still sitting at this same spot. 

When the male came to feed the fedgling at 6:11 PM, 

the fedgling futtered its wings excitedly about the male 

in its desire to be fed. After a short one-minute feeding, 

the squab was left sitting on the limb upon which it had 

been fed. A check at 7:45 PM revealed it still in that 

spot, where it roosted for the night. From all observations this bird was fairly capable of fight but at the 

estimated age of 31 days its fying ability certainly would 

need much refnement to compare with the adults. 

Some squabs remaining in nearby trees left their nests 

as much as seven days before the normal departure 

dates above. Often the squab would practice fying, be 

led by the adult through tree branches, or chase after 

the adult to be fed. When the researcher accidentally 

fushed some reasonably-advanced squabs from their 

nests, they usually had just enough fight mobility to 

glide and land in a nearby tree. 

Once off the nest they seldom returned, but sat in a 

nearby tree awaiting the adults’ return with food. One 

squab did return the following day to the actual nest 

platform but this was the exception. On 3 July 1952, a 

marked squab which had left the nest area on 27 June 

returned twice to the nest tree. During each visit the 

squab could be heard peeping. After the adults did not 

appear the fedgling left, not to be seen again by the 

observer. This squab had left its nest for an eight-day 

interval before returning. 

How the adults fnd the squabs that prematurely fush 

from the nest was interestingly disclosed in 1953. On 23 

August 1953, for purposes of photographing and feather 

measurements, I climbed toward the platform of nest 

#35, but before I reached the squab it suddenly fushed 

from the dense grand fr. I was unable to follow the 

squab’s fight and, after an hour’s search, decided to wait 

for the adult feeding period on the following day to see if 

they could locate the squab. This squab was estimated, 

based on earlier measurements, to be better than 20 

days old on the day it fushed from its nest. At 10:15 AM 

the following day the adult female landed with a futter 

of wings in a fr next to the nest tree, and then proceeded 

to the empty nest platform. She craned her neck and 

futtered around the limbs looking for the squab. She 

rather frantically moved to a nearby red cedar and there 

started to give low purring calls. The male, who was now 

on a high perch nearby, began cooing amid her calls. I 

moved under the nest tree at this point, but she was so 

absorbed in her purring calls, now louder, that she did 

not appear to see my movement below. She few again to 

the nest platform and issued even louder purring calls. 

At this point I heard the squab call weakly from an area 

to the west of the nest. 

The cooing male then moved through the intervening 

branches toward the calls of the squab, traveling about 

50 yards (46 m), until the squab could be seen futtering its wings on a Douglas-fr limb about 15 feet (4.6 m) 

from the ground. This tree was in the same direction the 

squab had fown in a gliding fight the day before. The 

squab did not fy back to the nest, the female, or move 

closer to the approaching male. The squab continued to 

peep midst the cooing of the male, which in addition gave 

purring calls, the same type as the female’s earlier calls. 

The female fed the squab and left it in the fr, where it 

was fed for several days before disappearing, apparently 

to join the adults. 

Some squabs in each nesting season can be expected to 

overstep their nests, especially in their voracious desires 

to be fed by an approaching adult. A squab fell from its 

nest just behind our living quarters in July 1953 and, 

although I searched in the vegetation below the tree, I 

could not fnd the squab, which was approximately 

10 days old. Remembering how the squabs of other 

nests answered to the cooing of the males, I proceeded to issue this call, and shortly a very light peeping 

came from the squab in dense vegetation nearby. It 

was retrieved and placed in its nest. Without this call 

to locate it, the squab probably would have perished 

since it is doubtful the male would have entered the 

dense vegetation to feed it every day for another 10 

to 15 days. Unfortunately, this particular squab died 

a few days later, apparently from injuries suffered 

in the fall. The adults began building a second nest 

within a week in a nearby white fr. 

Brooding and Growth of Squab 47 
48 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

Nesting Success 

Nesting successes for studies reported ranged from 

27 to 75%. Peeters (1962) reported a high incidence of 

mortality among nestlings; of 11 nests observed during 

1961–1962 near Berkeley, California, only three squabs 

fedged. MacGregor and Smith (1955) observed 26 nestings, 65% of which were successful in fedging squabs. 

Glover (1953) estimated a 73% success for 109 breeding 

pairs in his study area in Humboldt County, California, 

but this was an estimate only based upon an August 

census of the adult:immature ratio. Eliza Island studies 

of 50 nestings showed 75% fedged squabs in 1952 and 

only 33.3% in 1953. The overall nesting success for 57 

observed nestings in 1952 and 1953 on Eliza, Vendovi, 

and Lummi islands was 50.9% (Table 8). 

Of fve bandtail nests located at 4,000 feet (1,219 m) near 

Mesa Grande in San Diego County, California; Abbott 

(1927) reports that two with eggs were deserted in 

July and a nest with a one-day-old squab hatched on 19 

August 1926 was also deserted. Two other August nests 

contained eggs but were not reported upon. These nesting mortalities, including two other late September and 

October nests deserted after cold rain storms indicate 

a lack of nesting production in this southern California 

area. 

Allen (1941) observed in July 1934, near Altadena, California, a nest where the squab was found dead on the 

ground. He further reports that in 1936 various pairs of 

pigeons were seen feeding young on 4 July, incubating 

eggs on 7 July, and building a nest on 25 August. The 

latter nest was deserted a few days later. 

Another nest located was being constructed on 1 

February, 1939, according to Allen (1941) and a dead 

young bird was found under this nest on 1 April. Other 

unsuccessful nestings were reported and even with the 

earliest recorded nesting of 27 February 1939, until the 

latest, 1 November 1937, when a young pigeon left the 

nest, Allen reported the proportion of successful nesting 

was low. Each nest contained but one egg or squab. 

Willard (1916) missed collecting several bandtail eggs 

by their being knocked from the nest by the startled 

adult. It can be envisioned that avian predators could 

also cause this type of nest loss when the adult, fushed 

suddenly, knocks the egg or even the squab from the 

nest platform. 

Abbott (1927) stated: 

That successive young pigeons are sometimes 

raised in one nest the same season was proved by 

Ralph Bushnell (1925) (in Bent 1932) who found a 

nest on March 8, containing one egg, from which 

the squab hatched and grew up. The pigeon then 

laid an egg in the same nest and started incubating. The second young bird hatched about the 

middle of May and lived to leave the nest. 

MacGregor and Smith (1955) at Carmel, California, reported one nest of 26 observed nestings was used three 

times in one year. None of the 50 nests found on Eliza 

Island was used twice nor does Peeters (1962) report 

second use of the nest platform. Using the same nest 

platform twice in one year seemingly is not the normal 

situation for bandtail nesting. 
Name of Section 

 

 

 49

Summary 

This study on Eliza Island, Washington, was designed to 

examine the questions of whether band-tailed pigeons 

can lay two eggs per clutch and nest twice within the 

same year. The results indicated that two-egg clutches 

were very uncommon, but left open the answer as to 

how many nest attempts can occur in Washington in 

one breeding season. Review of the literature indicated 

that two-egg clutches can occur but are uncommon. 

This review also indicated that at least two nestings per 

year can occur, especially in southern areas. During 

the feld study on Eliza Island, 20 active nests were 

located in 1952 and 30 active nests were located in 1953. 

Nest success (fedging) varied from 1952 to 1953 but 

averaged 50% for the two years. These results were 

confounded by an ongoing predator control experiment 

in conjunction with research on captive-reared and 

released ring-necked pheasants. Data are presented 

on characteristics of displays and behaviors of bandtailed pigeons, nesting and incubation behavior, growth 

of young, and causes of nest failure, food habits, band 

recaptures and recoveries, and species of trees used for 

nesting. The life history information in this report were 

mostly lacking in the scientifc literature when this work 

was completed in 1952–1953. The detail presented is 

still important in aiding our knowledge of the ecology of 

band-tailed pigeons. 

Summary 49 
50 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

Acknowledgments 

W. H. Bohl expressed his appreciation to the Oregon 

Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit and the Wildlife 

Management Institute for funding this study. Wayne 

was especially appreciative of Arthur S. Einarsen for 

encouraging this research; Johnson A. Neff for advice; 

graduate students C. G. Hansen, H. D. Hartwell, R. R. 

Hoffman, and W. Q. Wick for feld research records; and 

Richard Phillips and Hugh Black for their feld assistance (Figure 8). Wayne’s wife Norma participated in 

much of the effort and made many important contributions. CEB expresses his gratitude to Wayne Bohl for 

contacting him in the 1972–1975 interval and asking him 

to complete the project. TAS and CEB thank Norma 

Bohl and Laurie Ulrich for providing Wayne’s original 

photographs and for reviewing drafts of this manuscript. 

Figure 8. Research biologists Hugh Black (left) and Richard Phillips (right) assisted with the band-tailed 

pigeon study on Eliza Island, Washington, 1952–1953. 
Name of Section 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 51

Literature Cited 

Abbott, C. G. 1927. Notes on the nesting of the

 band-tailed pigeon. The Condor 29:121–123. 

Allen, W. I. 1941. Nesting of band-tailed pigeons at

 Altadena, California. The Condor 43:156–157. 

American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU). 1957. 

Check-list of North American birds, Fifth Edition. 

American Ornithologists’ Union, Baltimore, 

Maryland, USA. 

Bailey, F. M. 1928. Birds of New Mexico. New Mexico

 Department of Game and Fish, Santa Fe, USA. 

Bendire, C. E. 1892. Life histories of North American

 birds. U.S. National Museum Special Bulletin,

 Number 1, Volume 1. 

Bent, A. C. 1932. Life histories of North American

 gallinaceous birds. U.S. National Museum Bulletin

 162. 

Blake, E. R. 1953. Birds of Mexico. University of

 Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 

Cottam, C. 1941. Indigo bunting and band-tailed

 pigeon in Utah. Condor 43:122. 

Davis, J. M. 1938. Nesting dates from the Humboldt

 Bay region. Condor 40:182–183. 

Dehnel, P. A. 1947. Report on the life history of the

 band-tailed pigeon. Department of Zoology,

 University of California, Berkeley, USA. 

Derby, W. F. 1920. Band-tailed pigeon nests in Sequoia

 National Forest. California Fish and Game 6:182. 

Friedmann, H., L. Griscom, and R. T. Moore. 1950.

 Distributional check-list of the birds of Mexico.

 Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum

 104:463–524. 

Gabrielson, I. N., and S. G. Jewett. 1940. Birds of

 Oregon. Oregon State College, Corvallis, USA. 

Glover, F. A. 1953. A nesting study of the band-tailed

 pigeon (Columba f. fasciata) in northwestern

 California. California Fish and Game 39:397–407. 

Grinnell, J. 1928. September nesting of the band-tailed

 pigeon. Condor 30:126–127. 

Grinnell, J., and A. H. Miller. 1944. The distribution

 of the birds of California. Pacifc Coast Avifauna

 27:183–184. 

Grinnell, J., H. C. Bryant, and T. I. Storer. 1918.

 The game birds of California. University of

 California Press, Berkeley, USA. 

Hagenstein, W. M. 1936. Late nesting of the

 band-tailed pigeon. Murrelet 17:21–22. 

Hansen, C. G. 1942. List of birds of Kings Canyon

 National Park (Observations in the months of May

 to October 1942). Manuscript in Park fles,

 National Park Service. Fresno, California, USA. 

Huey, L. M. 1913. With the band-tailed pigeon in San

 Diego County, California. Condor 15:151–153. 

Jewett, S. G. 1941. Late nesting of the band-tailed

 pigeon. Condor 43:78. 

Jarvis, R. L., and M. F. Passmore. 1992. Ecology

 of band-tailed pigeons in Oregon. U.S.

 Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife

 Service, Biological Report 6, Washington,

 D.C., USA. 

Keppie, D. M., and C. E. Braun. 2020. Band-tailed

 Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata), version 1.0. in

 A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors. Birds of the

 World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca,

 New York, USA. 

Kloppenburg, H. A. 1922. Band-tailed pigeons

 abundant in Plumas National Forest. California

 Fish and Game 8:57. 

Lamb, C. C. 1926. The Viosca pigeon.

 Condor 28:262–263. 

Leopold, A. S. 1959. Wildlife of Mexico, the game birds

 and mammals. University of California Press,

 Berkeley, USA. 

MacGregor, W. G., and W. M. Smith. 1955. Nesting and

 reproduction of the band-tailed pigeon in

 California. California Fish and Game 41:315–326. 

Mailliard, J. 1923. Field work among the birds and

 mammals of the northwest coast of California.

 Proceedings of the California Academy of Science

 12:1–26. 

Michael, E. 1929. The band-tailed pigeons nest.

 Yosemite Nature Notes 8(1):6–7. 

Moran, N. 1919. Nesting of the band-tailed pigeon.

 California Fish and Game 5:160. 

Munro, J. A. 1922. The band-tailed pigeon in British

 Columbia. The Canadian Field-Naturalist 36:1–4. 

Munro, J. A., and I. M. Cowan. 1947. A review of the

 bird fauna of British Columbia. British Columbia

 Provincial Museum Special Publication Number 2.

 British Columbia Provincial Museum, Victoria,

 Canada. 

Neff, J. A. 1944. Seeds of legumes eaten by birds.

 Condor 46:207. 

Neff, J. A. 1947. Habits, food, and economic status of

 the band-tailed pigeon. North American Fauna 58. 

Neff, J. A. 1952. Inventory of band-tailed pigeon

 populations in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico

 1952. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and

 Wildlife Service, Wildlife Research Laboratory,

 Denver, Colorado, USA. 

Neff, J. A., and J. C. Culbreath. 1947. Status of the

 band-tailed pigeon in Colorado, season of 1946.

 U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife

 Service and Colorado Department of Game and

 Fish. Denver, USA. 

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52 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

Neff, J. A., and R. J. Niedrach. 1946. Nesting of the

 band-tailed pigeon in Colorado. Condor 48:72–74. 

Niedrach, R. J., and C. P. Matteson. 1949. Quarterly

 Progress Report. Colorado Department of Game

 and Fish. Denver, USA. 

Pearse, T. 1935. Display of the band-tailed pigeon.

 Murrelet 16:71–72. 

Peeters, H. J. 1962. Nuptial behavior of the

 band-tailed pigeon in the San Francisco Bay area.

 Condor 64:445–470. 

Ransom, W. H. 1956. Some avian appetites (Part III).

 Western Bird-Banding Association 31:45–48. 

Rawley, E. V., and W. J. Bailey. 1964. Utah upland game

 birds. Utah State Department of Fish and Game.

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Rowley, J. S. 1934. Notes on the nesting of the

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Sanders, T. A, and R. L. Jarvis. 2000. Do band-tailed

 pigeons seek a calcium supplement at mineral

 sites? Condor 10:855–863. 

Sanders, T. A, and R. C. Koch. 2018. Band-tailed pigeon

 use of supplemental mineral. Journal of Wildlife

 Management 82:538–552. 

Schorger, A. W. 1955. The passenger pigeon, its natural

 history and extinction. University of Wisconsin

 Press, Madison, USA. 

Skutch, A. F. 1956. Life history of the ruddy ground

 dove. Condor 58:188–205. 

Stephens, F. 1913. Early nesting of the band-tailed

 pigeon. Condor 15:129. 

Stillman, A. E. 1928. Nesting of the band-tailed pigeon.

 American Forests. Pp 267–268. 

Swank, W. G. 1952. Trapping and marking adult

 nesting doves. Journal of Wildlife Management

 61:87–90. 

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1955. Survey of

 band-tailed pigeons in Arizona, Colorado, New

 Mexico, and Utah 1954. Unpublished Report. U.S.

 Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife

 Service, Branch of Game Management,

 Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. 

Vorhies, C. T. 1928. Band-tailed pigeons nesting in

 Arizona in September. Condor 30:253. 

Willard, F. C. 1913. Some late nesting notes from the

 Huachuca Mountains, Arizona. Condor 15:41. 

Willard, F. C. 1916. Nesting of the band-tailed pigeon

 in southern Arizona. Condor 18:110–112. 

Wing, L. W. 1956. Natural history of birds. Ronald

 Press Company, New York, USA. 

Wooten, W. A. 1955. A trapping technique for

 band-tailed pigeons. Journal of Wildlife

 Management 19:411–412. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

10

15

20

25

30

53

Table 1. Daily band-tailed pigeon counts from 9 April to 1 October 1952 on Eliza Island, Washington. 

Month 

Day Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct 

1 0 4 15 15 13 21 4 

2 0 16 15 20 12 †1 0 

3 0 5 25 20 12 34 0 

4 0 10 25 18 12 2 0 

0 5 30 15 15 37 0 

6 0 6 25 15 14 10 0 

7 0 12 20 12 10 2 0 

8 0 † 20 12 10 11 0 

9 3 5 25 12 10 55 0 

3 3 15 10 10 20 0 

11 3 5 † 12 15 † 0 

12 4 9 8 12 12 † 0 

13 21 6 12 12 15 4 0 

14 14 17 10 12 15 4 0 

5 5 12 12 12 9 0 

16 4 4 12 15 10 4 0 

17 6 5 12 12 10 2 0 

18 5 3 15 15 10 2 0 

19 4 † 12 15 12 1 0 

4 4 12 15 10 1 0 

21 8 4 15 15 10 3 0 

22 11 5 15 10 10 2 0 

23 21 5 15 12 10 5 0 

24 15 4 15 15 65 3 0 

30 5 15 15 25 3 0 

26 7 4 12 12 20 6 0 

27 4 8 12 10 18 8 0 

28 10 122 10 12 16 0 0 

29 11 8 20 10 8 0 0 

6 9 20 12 † 0 0 

31 13 12 31 0 

1 No feld observations. 

2

 Baiting to attract pigeons for live trapping from 25 May to 13 June resulted in a larger number of birds; the numbers 

decreased after trapping. 

Name of Section Tables 53
54 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island Table 2. Band returns (recoveries and recaptures) through 1 January 1957 of 195 band-tailed pigeons banded on Eliza Island, Whatcom County, Washington, 1952–1953. Band Return Date Number1 Age class Date Days2 Location How 9 Jun 1952 33172 Adult 29 May 1953 354 Eliza Island, Whatcom Co., WA Trapped 9 Jun 1952 55715 Adult 13 Dec 1953 552 Figureoa Mt., Santa Barbara Co., CA Shot 9 Jun 1952 55719/505-49145 Adult 9 May 1953 334 Eliza Island, Whatcom Co., WA Trapped 29 Aug 1952 505-49077 Juvenile 12 Sep 1955 775 Nehalem, Tillamook Co., OR Shot 9 May 1953 505-49101 Adult 9 Dec 1953 214 Los Padres National Forest near Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara Co., CA Shot 9 May 1953 505-49103 Adult 2 Sep 1953 116 Near Samish Salmon Rearing Station, Skagit Co., WA Shot 9 May 1953 505-49115 Adult 8 Jul 1953 60 Eliza Island, Whatcom Co., WA Trapped 9 May 1953 505-49117 Adult 11 Sep 1953 125 King Co., WA Shot 9 May 1953 505-49126 Adult 13 Sep 1953 4 Eliza Island, Whatcom Co., WA Killed by Cooper’s hawk 9 May 1953 505-49152 Adult 11 Sep 1955 774 Freeborn Community, East Stanwood, Snohomish Co., WA Shot 

9 May 1953 505-49121 Adult 1 Dec 1957 1667 El Wright Ranch, Cantinas area near Nacimiento River, 

San Luis Obispo Co., CA Shot 

29 May 1953 505-49062 Adult 1 Sep 1953 95 Lopez Island, San Juan Co., WA Shot 

29 May 1953 505-49063 Adult 15 Sep 1954 474 Near Bellingham, Whatcom Co., WA Shot 

29 May 1953 505-49091 Adult 1 Dec 1954 551 Chews Ridge, Los Padres National Forest, Carmel Valley, 

Monterey Co., CA Shot 

29 May 1953 505-49306 Adult 4 Sep 1954 463 Tenino, 1 mi (1.6 km) SE Thurston Co., WA Shot 

29 May 1953 505-49315 Adult 5 Sep 1954 464 Head of Eld Inlet, 5 mi (8 km) west of Olympia, Thurston Co., WA Shot 

3 Jun 1953 505-49327 Adult 11 Sep 1955 830 Nagrom, WA Shot 

3 Jun 1953 505-49343 Adult 30 Mar 1955 665 Nevada Co., CA Shot 

5 Jun 1953 515-30723 Adult 1 Dec 1954 544 Los Angeles Co., CA Shot 

5 Jun 1953 515-30745 Adult 5 Dec 1953 183 San Luis Obispo Co., CA Shot 

3 Jul 1953 515-30703 Juvenile 10 Jul 1953 7 Eliza Island, Whatcom Co., WA Died after 

falling from nest 

9 Jul 1953 515-30707 Juvenile 1 Aug 1953 23 Eliza Island, Whatcom Co., WA Killed by

Cooper’s hawk at nest 

1 Bands are U.S. Fish and Wildlife bands except bands with 5 digit-numbers are Oregon State Game Commission bands. 2 Days between banding and subsequent encounter. 
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 5555 

Table 3. Percentage by volume and frequency of occurrence of food items that totaled 0.5% or more of 149 

band-tailed pigeons collected by the Oregon Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, 1-30 September 1946 

and 1947. 

Food item Percentage by volume Percentage by frequency 

Cornus nuttallii, dogwood fruits 35.6 65.0 

Quercus garrvana, white oak acorns 22.0 32.0 

Sambucus glauca, blue elderberry fruits 13.0 25.0 

Rhamnus purshiana, cascara fruits 10.0 12.7 

Crataegus douglasii, western hawthorn fruits 6.7 8.7 

Acorn debris and fragments 6.5 8.7 

Prunus emarginata, wild cherry fruits 3.0 9.4 

Wheat 1.4 2.7 

Amelanchier alnifolia, western serviceberry 0.6 0.7 

Oats trace 0.7 

Barley trace 0.7 

Rubus spp. trace 0.7 

Prunus spp. trace 0.7 

Crataegus spp. trace 0.7 

Appendix A Tables 55
56 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 4. Foods observed eaten, found in crop of dead pigeons, or at nest platforms on Eliza Island, Washington from 12 April through 12 September 1953. 

Date (1953) Foods eaten 

12 Apr Feeding on madrone buds, fowers, eating some waste grain from cultivated felds 

20 Apr Feeding on madrone buds, fowers, wheat (being used as trapping bait for pigeons) 

22 Apr One pigeon eating buds from cottonwood tree 

2, 3, 4 May Eating madrone buds, fowers 

5 May Searching for grand fr catkins, eating a few 

7 May Feeding on madrone buds, fowers 

29 May Female pigeon accidentally killed in island trapping operation had cracked corn, several 

madrone buds, green and red elderberry fowers and fruits in crop 

3 Jun Squab 11 or 12 days old dead in nest; crop contained 50% pigeon’s milk, 40% whole wheat 

kernels (one kernel germinating, 0.43 inch [11 mm] long stem), 10% red elderberries, 

3 pieces of grit 

14 Jun Two pigeons feeding on red elderberries 

19 Jun Fruit and seeds of red elderberries found at most nest platforms containing squabs 

21 Jun Ripe red elderberry fruit found on nest platform of squab recently fed 

25 Jun Heavy deposit of red elderberry seeds in nest with squab 

30 Jun Two pigeons feeding on leaf tips of Douglas-fr 

21 Jul Many freshly deposited red elderberry seeds present in nest of 10-day-old squab; 

pigeons observed eating wild cherries on Vendovi Island nearby, acorns being eaten on 

Spieden Island 

23 Jul Salal berry on nest platform 

29 Jul Nest contained many salal-stained scats 

30 Jul Wild cherries almost ripe on Eliza Island 

2 Aug Crops of two squabs killed by avian predator contained red elderberry fruit plus pigeon milk 

5 Aug Salal berry seeds numerous in nests 

12 Aug Fresh red elderberry and salal scats in nests 

19 Aug One pair feeding in wild cherry trees; their nest nearby 

28 Aug Many pigeons observed feeding on wild cherries on nearby mainland 

12 Sep Many salal stained scats in nest platforms; madrone fruits and huckleberry beginning 

to ripen but most pigeons moving south in their migration to California or Baja California 
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 57 

Table 5. Band-tailed pigeon nesting event termination dates (observed and projected) and success for nests 

located (nest #A = 1952, #B = 1953) on Eliza, Lummi, and Vendovi islands, Washington, 1952 and 1953. 

Nest # Area Left nest or area Fate 

A-1 Eliza Projected 29 Jun1 Deserted; egg, 10–15 day embryo 

A-2 Eliza 25 Jun Successful 

A-3 Eliza 27 Jun Successful 

A-4 Eliza 30 Jun-5 Jul, estimate Successful 

A-5 Eliza 4 Jul Successful 

A-6 Eliza 20 Jul Successful 

A-7 Eliza 15-20 Jul, estimate Successful 

A-8 Eliza 22 Jul Successful 

A-9 Eliza Projected 22 Aug Deserted; egg, no development 

A-10 Eliza 27 Jul Successful 

A-11 Eliza Projected 12 Aug Deserted; egg, no development 

A-12 Eliza Projected 17 Aug1 Deserted; squab dead at base of tree 

A-13 Eliza 7 Aug Successful 

A-14 Eliza 16 Aug Successful 

A-15 Eliza 28 Aug Successful 

A-16 Eliza 30 Aug Successful 

A-17 Eliza 1 Sep Successful 

A-18 Eliza 4 Sep Successful 

A-19 Eliza 13 Sep Successful 

A-20 Eliza Unknown Deserted; egg, no development 

B-1 Eliza Projected 21Jun Deserted; egg, embryo forming 

B-2 Eliza Projected 22 Jun Deserted; egg, embryo forming 

B-3 Eliza Projected 20 Jun Deserted; egg, no development 

B-4 Eliza Projected 28 Jun Deserted; 11–12 day old squab dead in nest 

B-5 Eliza Projected 28 Jun Deserted; 3–5 day old squab dead at base of tree 

B-6 Eliza Projected 4 Jul Deserted; egg, 15-day embryo, crow attacked female on nest 

B-7 Eliza Projected 3 Jul Deserted; egg broken at base of tree 

B-8 Eliza Projected 9Aug Deserted; squab missing 

B-9 Eliza Projected 18 Jul1 Deserted; egg, no development 

B-10 Eliza Projected 28 Jul Deserted; squab dead at base of tree 

B-11 Eliza Projected 22 Jul Deserted; egg, no development 

B-12 Eliza Projected 27 Jul Deserted; 10-day old squab missing 

B-13 Eliza Projected 24 Jul Deserted; 8-day old squab missing 

B-14 Eliza 27 Jun Successful 

B-15 Eliza Projected 31 Jul Deserted; egg missing 

B-16 Lummi Projected 5 Aug Deserted; egg missing 

B-17 Eliza 11 Aug Successful 

B-18 Eliza Projected 6 Aug Deserted; egg, slight development 

B-19 Eliza Projected 11Aug Deserted; egg, slight development 

B-20 Eliza 7 Jul Successful 

B-21 Vendovi Projected 3 Aug Deserted; 3–5 day old squab missing 

B-22 Eliza Projected 20 Aug Predation; 14-day old squab killed on nest by Cooper’s hawk 

B-23 Eliza Projected 23 Aug Predation; 18-day old squab killed on nest by Cooper’s hawk 

B-24 Eliza 24 Aug Successful 

B-25 Eliza Projected 22 Aug Deserted; egg missing 

B-26 Vendovi Projected 21 Aug Successful 

B-27 Vendovi Projected 1 Aug Deserted; egg, no development 

B-28 Vendovi Projected 4 Aug Successful 

B-29 Vendovi Projected 20 Jul Successful 

B-30 Vendovi Projected 5 Aug Successful 

B-31 Eliza Projected 14 Aug Predation; 9-day old squab killed on nest by Cooper’s hawk 

B-32 Eliza 29 Aug Successful 

B-33 Eliza 17 Aug Successful 

B-34 Eliza 25 Aug Successful 

B-35 Eliza 25 Sep Successful 

B-36 Eliza 26 Sep Successful 

B-37 Eliza 30 Aug Successful 

1 Suspected cause of desertion = human interference A-1, A-12 and B-9. 

Appendix A Tables 57
58 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 6. Band-tailed pigeon nest site characteristics for 136 nests located on Eliza Island, Washington, 

1952–1953. Nest site characteristics include forest type, distance to forest opening or edge, tree species, 

tree diameter at breast height, number of nests per tree, nest height from the ground, and distance of the 

nest from the tree trunk. 

Forest type Dist. to Tree species DBH Nests per Height Dist. to 

opening (inches tree (feet [m]) trunk

 (yards [m]) [cm]) [m]) 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 40 [37] Douglas-fr 11.0 [28] 1 65 [19.8] 5 [1.5] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 35 [32] Douglas-fr 21.0 [53] 1 47 [14.3] 8 [2.4] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 55 [50] Red cedar 23.0 [58] 1 60 [18.3] 2 [[0.6] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 100 [91] Red cedar 6.5 [17] 1 45 [13.7] 0 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 100 [91] Douglas-fr 10.0 [25] 1 75 [22.9] 2 [0.6] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 30 [27] Red cedar 12.5 [32] 1 60 [18.3] 12 [3.7] 

Douglas-fr, grand fr 35 [32] Douglas-fr 15.0 [38] 1 50 [15.2] 8 [2.4] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 50 [46] Douglas-fr 10.0 [25] 1 50 [15.2] 4 [1.2] 

Douglas-fr 20 [18] Douglas-fr 9.0 [23] 1 45 [13.7] 4 [1.2] 

Douglas-fr, madrone 15 [14] Douglas-fr 8.0 [20] 1 18 [5.5] 4 [1.2] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 100 [91] Douglas-fr 11.0 [28] 1 40 [12.2] 2 [0.6] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar, 

ocean spray 0 Douglas-fr 6.5 [17] 1 25 [7.6] 8 [2.4] 

Grand fr, Douglas-fr 40 [37] Grand fr 6.5 [17] 1 22 [6.7] 3 [0.9] 

Grand fr, Douglas-fr 75 [69] Grand fr 6.0 [15] 2 27 [8.2] 2 [0.6] 

Grand fr, Douglas-fr 125 [114] Pacifc yew 17.0 [43] 1 25 [7.6] 10 [3.0] 

Red cedar, Douglas-fr 130 [119] Grand fr 21.0 [53] 1 18 [5.5] 0 

Red cedar, Douglas-fr 125 [114] Red cedar 8.0 [20] 1 24 [7.3] 4 [1.2] 

Red cedar, Douglas-fr 125 [114] Red cedar 7.0 [18] 1 15 [4.6] 3 [0.9] 

Red cedar, Douglas-fr 100 [91] Red cedar 6.5 [17] 1 12 [3.7] 1 [0.3] 

Red cedar, Douglas-fr 100 [91] Red cedar 9.0 [23] 2 15 [4.6] 0 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 75 [69] Douglas-fr 24.0 [61] 1 50 [15.2] 8 [2.4] 

Red cedar, wild cherry 125 [114] Pacifc yew 7.0 [18] 1 15 [4.6] 5 [1.5] 

Red cedar, alder, maple 100 [91] Red cedar 7.0 [18] 1 20 [6.1] 4 [1.2] 

Red cedar, maple 100 [91] Red alder 19.0 [48] 1 25 [7.6] 0 

Grand fr, maple, 

red cedar 100 [91] Grand fr 26.0 [66] 1 50 [15.2] 0 

Grand fr, maple, 

red cedar 100 [91] Grand fr 17.0 [43] 1 30 [9.1] 0 

Grand fr, maple, 

red cedar 100 [91] Dwarf maple1 9.0 [23] 1 15 [4.6] 6 [1.8] 

Grand fr, maple, 

red cedar 100 [91] Pacifc yew 7.5 [19] 1 25 [7.6] 4 [1.2] 

Grand fr, alder, 

Douglas-fr 80 [73] Pacifc yew 5.0 [13] 1 15 [4.6] 4 [1.2] 
Name of Section 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 59 

Forest type Dist. to Tree species DBH Nests per Height Dist. to 

opening (inches tree (feet [m]) trunk

 (yards [m]) [cm]) [m]) 

Red cedar, grand fr, 

yew 75 [69] Red cedar 38.0 [97] 1 67 [20.4] 0 

Grand fr, Douglas-fr 75 [69] Grand fr 11.0 [28] 1 50 [15.2] 1 [0.3] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar,

 yew1 00 [91] Douglas-fr 8.0 [20] 1 35 [10.7] 5 [1.5] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 50 [46] Douglas-fr 7.5 [19] 1 63 [19.2] 2 [0.6] 

Grand fr, Douglas-fr, 

red cedar 60 [55] Grand fr 13.0 [33] 1 58 [17.7] 0 

Grand fr, Douglas-fr, 

red cedar 75 [69] Grand fr 15.5 [39] 1 55 [16.8] 0 

Grand fr, Douglas-fr, 

red cedar 35 [32] Douglas-fr 9.0 [23] 1 50 [15.2] 0 

Douglas-fr, grand fr 75 [69] Douglas-fr 6.0 [15] 1 45 [13.7] 3 [0.9] 

Grand fr, dwarf maple 35 [32] Grand fr 7.0 [18] 1 15 [4.6] 0 

Grand fr, dwarf maple 35 [32] Grand fr 13.0 [33] 1 35 [10.7] 3 [0.9] 

Red cedar, grand fr 35 [32] Red cedar 8.0 [20] 2 40 [12.2] 1 [0.3] 

Red cedar, grand fr 30 [27] Grand fr 13.0 [33] 1 25 [7.6] 0 

Red cedar, dwarf maple, 

grand fr 25 [23] Red cedar 12.5 [32] 1 15 [4.6] 0 

Red cedar, willow, 

dwarf maple 20 [18] Grand fr 8.0 [20] 1 14 [4.3] 6 [1.8] 

Grand fr, dwarf maple 25 [23] Grand fr 15.5 [39] 1 25 [7.6] 0 

Dwarf maple, Douglas-fr 25 [23] Grand fr 14.0 [36] 1 30 [9.1] 0 

Grand fr, bigleaf maple 30 [27] Grand fr 7.0 [18] 1 40 [12.2] 0 

Grand fr, Douglas-fr, 

red cedar 45 [41] Grand fr 18.0 [46] 1 35 [10.7] 0 

Bigleaf maple, grand fr 5 [5] Grand fr 22.0 [56] 1 4 [1.2] 7 [2.1] 

Douglas-fr, alder 15 [14] Douglas-fr 5.0 [13] 1 35 [10.7] 4 [1.2] 

Grand fr, dwarf maple 25 [23] Grand fr 17.0 [43] 1 38 [11.6] 4 [1.2] 

Grand fr, Douglas-fr 20 [18] Douglas-fr 14.0 [36] 1 65 [19.8] 4 [1.2] 

Grand fr, red cedar, alder30 [27] Grand fr 13.5 [34] 1 55 [16.8] 4 [1.2] 

Grand fr, Douglas-fr 30 [27] Douglas-fr 27.0 [69] 2 18 [5.5] 9 [2.7] 

Douglas-fr, alder 25 [23] Douglas-fr 14.0 [36] 1 15 [4.6] 1 [0.3] 

Red cedar, bigleaf maple 0 Grand fr 16.0 [41] 1 50 [15.2] 0 

Maple, red cedar 25 [23] Douglas-fr 17.0 [43] 1 15 [4.6] 12 [3.7] 

Douglas-fr, dwarf maple 35 [32] Douglas-fr 14.5 [37] 1 30 [9.1] 8 [2.4] 

Douglas-fr, dwarf maple 15 [14] Douglas-fr 7.5 [19] 1 42 [12.8] 0 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 25 [23] Douglas-fr 11.0 [28] 1 25 [7.6] 0 

Appendix B Tables 59
60 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forest type Dist. to Tree species DBH Nests per Height Dist. to 

opening (inches tree (feet [m]) trunk

 (yards [m]) [cm]) [m]) 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 20 [18] Douglas-fr 11.5 [29] 1 15 [4.6] 0 

Red cedar, willow 5 [14] Willow 9.0 [23] 1 6 [1.8] 8 [2.4] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 15 [14] Douglas fr 4.5 [11] 1 22 [6.7] 0 

Alder, dwarf maple 40 [37] Grand fr 6.0 [15] 1 23 [7] 0 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 75 [69] Grand fr 20.0 [51] 1 25 [7.6] 3 [0.9] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 100 [91] Douglas-fr 8.5 [22] 1 45 [13.7] 5 [1.5] 

Red cedar, willow 15 [14] Red cedar 6.0 [15] 1 14 [4.3] 0 

Douglas-fr, willow 75 [69] Douglas-fr 4.0 [10] 1 30 [9.1] 0 

Douglas-fr, willow 40 [37] Douglas-fr 9.0 [23] 1 14 [4.3] 10 [3.0] 

Douglas-fr, willow 50 [46] Douglas-fr 5.0 [13] 1 37 [11.3] 0 

Douglas-fr, willow 75 [69] Douglas-fr 4.0 [10] 1 20 [6.1] 0 

Douglas-fr, willow 45 [41] Grand fr 14.0 [36] 1 35 [10.7] 0 

Douglas-fr, willow, 

dwarf maple 100 [91] Douglas-fr 8.0 [20] 1 28 [8.5] 5 [1.5] 

Douglas-fr, alder 125 [114] Douglas-fr 13.0 [33] 1 40 [12.2] 8 [2.4] 

Douglas-fr, alder, willow 100 [1] Douglas-fr 19.0 [48] 1 48 [14.6] 5 [1.5] 

Grand fr, alder 50 [46] Grand fr 20.0 [51] 1 35 [10.7] 8 [2.4] 

Grand fr, willow 75 [69] Grand fr 10.0 [25] 1 50 [15.2] 

Douglas fr, red cedar, 

bigleaf maple 150 [137] Douglas-fr 8.0 [20] 1 28 [8.5] 10 [3.0] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 125 [114] Red cedar 32.0 [81] 1 38 [11.6] 6 [1.8] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar, 

dwarf maple 125 [114] Douglas-fr 6.0 [15] 1 40 [12.2] 0 

Douglas-fr, red 

cedar, willow 125 [114] Douglas-fr 6.0 [15] 1 45 [13.7] 1 [0.3] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 150 [137] Douglas-fr 6.0 [15] 1 40 [12.2] 5 [1.5] 

Douglas-fr, dwarf maple, 

red cedar 175 [160] Douglas-fr 16.5 [42] 1 15 [4.6] 0 

Douglas-fr, dwarf maple 175 [160] Douglas-fr 6.0 [15] 1 22 [6.7] 1 [0.3] 

Douglas-fr, bigleaf maple175 [160] Douglas-fr 22.0 [56] 1 65 [19.8] 6 [1.8] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 150 [137] Douglas-fr 16.0 [41] 1 78 [23.8] 6 [1.8] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 100 [91] Douglas-fr 10.0 [25] 1 95 [29] 0 

Red cedar, bigleaf maple 10 [9] Red cedar 9.0 [23] 1 10 [3.0] 5 [1.5] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 65 [57] Douglas-fr 19.5 [50] 1 24 [7.3] 0 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 75 [69] Douglas-fr 11.0 [28] 1 58 [17.7] 5 [1.5] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar, 

alder 100 [91] Douglas-fr 3.5 [9] 1 20 [6.1] 0 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 125 [114]Douglas-fr 6.5 [17] 1 18 [5.5] 0 
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 61 

Forest type Dist. to Tree species DBH Nests per Height Dist. to 

opening (inches tree (feet [m]) tr unk

 (yards [m]) [cm]) [m]) 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 35 [32] Douglas-fr 18.0 [46] 1 77 [23.5] 5 [1.5] 

Douglas-fr 75 [69] Douglas-fr 18.0 [46] 1 32 [9.7] 0 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 100 [91] Douglas-fr 6.0 [15] 1 45 [13.7] 0 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 65 [59] Douglas-fr 17.0 [43] 1 80 [24.4] 4 [1.2] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 75 [69] Douglas-fr 13.5 [34] 1 33 [10.1] 1 [0.3] 

Douglas-fr 75 [69] Douglas-fr 4.0 [10] 1 55 [16.8] 0 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 100 [91] Douglas-fr 15.0 [38] 1 15 [4.6] 0 

Douglas-fr, dwarf maple 90 [82] Douglas-fr 7.0 [18] 1 65 [19.8] 0 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 125 [114] Douglas-fr 6.0 [15] 1 20 [6.1] 0 

Douglas-fr 125 [114] Douglas-fr 3.0 [8] 1 28 [8.5] 0 

Douglas-fr 75 [69] Douglas-fr 9.5 [24] 1 22 [6.7] 0 

Douglas-fr, willow 2 [2] Willow 6.0 [15] 1 12 [3.7] 3 [0.9] 

Douglas-fr, willow, 

wild cherry 0 Douglas-fr 7.0 [18] 1 12 [3.7] 3 [0.9] 

Bigleaf maple, 

Douglas-fr 25 [23] Douglas-fr 31.0 [79] 1 3 [0.9] 20 [6.1] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 30 [27] Douglas-fr 7.5 [19] 1 34 [10.4] 0 

Douglas-fr, alder 10 [9] Douglas-fr 13.5 34] 1 60 [18.3] 0 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 55 [50] Douglas-fr 14.5 [37] 1 36 [11] 0 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 25 [23] Douglas-fr 15.0 [38] 1 25 [7.6] 8 [2.4] 

Douglas-fr, willow, 

ocean spray 10 [9] Douglas-fr 6.0 [15] 1 20 [6.1] 10 [3.0] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 40 [37] Douglas-fr 5.5 [14] 1 35 [10.7] 0 

Douglas-fr, 

bigleaf maple 50 [46] Willow 11.0 [28] 1 36 [11] 4 [1.2] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 15 [14] Douglas-fr 9.0 [23] 1 10 [3.0] 8 [2.4] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar, 

madrone 5 [5] Douglas-fr 10.5 [27] 1 9 [2.7] 8 [2.4] 

Douglas-fr, bigleaf maple, 

red cedar 20 [18] Douglas-fr 13.0 [33] 1 50 [15.2] 5 [1.5] 

Douglas-fr, alder, 

red cedar 5 [5] Douglas-fr 3.5 [9] 1 10 [3.0] 4 [1.2] 

Ocean spray, willow, 

Douglas-fr 10 [9] Douglas-fr 2.0 [5] 1 12 [3.7] 1 [0.3] 

Grand fr, dwarf maple 50 [46] Grand fr 6.5 [17] 1 45 [13.7] 2 [0.6] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar, 

alder, wild cherry 40 [37] Douglas-fr 7.0 [18] 2 55 [16.8] 2 [0.6] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 45 [41] Douglas-fr 6.0 [15] 1 45 [13.7] 3 [0.9] 

Douglas-fr, ocean spray, 

dwarf maple 5 [5] Douglas-fr 9.0 [23] 1 10 [3.0] 0 

Appendix B Tables 61
62 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forest type Dist. to Tree species DBH Nests per Height Dist. to 

opening (inches tree (feet [m]) trunk

 (yards [m]) [cm]) [m]) 

Ocean spray, Douglas-fr, 

Rubus 1 [1] Douglas-fr 6.0 [15] 1 12 [3.7] 0 

Ocean spray, Douglas-fr, 

Rubus 5 [5] Red cedar 6.0 [15] 1 4 [1.2] 3 [0.9] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar, 

grand fr 

Douglas-fr, grand fr, 

alder 

Douglas-fr, alder, 

grand fr 

35 [32] 

30 [27] 

40 [37] 

Grand fr 

Douglas-fr 

Douglas-fr 

12.0 [30] 

8.5 [22] 

8.5 [22] 

1 

1 

1 

40 [12.2] 

45 [13.7] 

50 [15.2] 

0 

0 

0 

Red cedar, alder, 

dwarf maple 50 [46] Douglas-fr 21.0 [53] 1 55 [16.8] 8 [2.4] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar, 

alder 65 [59] Douglas-fr 9.5 [24] 1 43 [13.1] 5 [1.5] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 45 [41] Douglas-fr 5.0 [13] 1 38 [11.6] 0 

Red cedar, Douglas-fr 35 [32] Grand fr 6.0 [15] 1 35 [10.7] 0 

Douglas-fr, red cedar, 

wild cherry 30 [27] Douglas-fr 7.0 [18] 1 50 [15.2] 4 [1.2] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 15 [14] Douglas-fr 11.0 [28] 1 45 [13.7] 10 [3.0] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 25 [23] Douglas-fr 6.0 [15] 1 65 [19.8] 2 [0.6] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar, 

alder 

Douglas-fr, red cedar, 

alder 

75 [69] 

65 [59] 

Douglas-fr 

Douglas-fr 

12.0 [30] 

7.0 [18] 

1 

1 

60 [18.3] 

40 [12.2] 

0 

6 [1.8] 

Douglas-fr, red cedar 30 [27] Douglas-fr 6.0 [15] 1 40 [12.2] 2 [0.6] 

1 Dwarf maple = Rocky Mountain maple (Acer glabrum), also known as Douglas maple. 
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 63 

Table 7. Development of band-tailed pigeon squab #B-17 on Eliza Island, Washington, 1953. 

Date (1953) Description 

12 Jul Approximately one day old. Nest against trunk, 45 feet (13.7 m) up, supported by large, red 

cedar branches. No readily visible pinfeathers on body. Covered with whitish-yellow fuzzy 

down. Started to shiver after being 20 minutes without adult. 

15 Jul Four days old. Primary pinfeathers 0.12–0.16 inches (3–4 mm). Dorsal tract pinfeathers 

0.04–0.08 inches (1–2 mm). Flank (over femur, tailward pins) 0.12–0.16 inches (3–4 mm). 

No other visible pinfeathers. Yellow orange fuzz on head. Yellow white on rest of body. 

Full crop, no sign of fruit seeds in scats. 

18 Jul Seven days old. Belligerent, half stands. Primary pinfeathers 0.71–0.94 inches (18–24 mm). 

Dorsal tract pinfeathers 0.28–0.31 inches (7–8 mm). Flank pinfeathers 0.63 inches (16 mm) 

(feathers out 0.04–0.08 inches [1–2 mm]). Tail pins, 0.16–0.24 inches (4–6 mm). No pins on head. 

Full crop with few elderberry seeds in nest. 

21 Jul Ten days old. Squab panting when exposed to direct sunlight. Very alert. Primaries1: sheath 

plus feather 1.26 inches (32 mm) (#1) and 1.77 inches (45 mm) (#2), feather 0.12 inches (3 mm)

 (#1) and 0.55 inches (14 mm) (#2). Dorsal tract feathers only 0.24–0.31 inches (6–8 mm). 

Flank (sheath plus feather) 0.79–0.98 inches (20–25 mm). Tail: sheath plus feather 0.59–0.71 

inches (15–18 mm), feathers 0.04–0.12 inches (1–3 mm). Head pins only 0.04–0.12 inches (1–3 

mm). Shoulder (coverts) feathers only 0.28–0.47 inches (7–12 mm). 

24 Jul Thirteen days old. Very belligerent until heated by sun, then more occupied with panting. 

Imitating coo of the male makes squab give short low peeps and quiver wings. Primaries: 

sheath plus feather 1.81 inches (46 mm) (#1) and 2.68 inches (68 mm) (#10), feather 0.87 inches 

(22 mm) (#1) and 1.57 inches (40 mm) (#10). Dorsal tract, feathers cover well. Flank feathers 

only 1.18–1.38 inches (30–35 mm). Tail: sheath plus feather 1.38 inches (35 mm) (middle), 

feather 0.59 inches (15 mm). Head pinfeathers all over, none open. Shoulder (coverts) feathers 

cover area well. Upper breast feathers 0.28–0.43 inches (7–11 mm). 

27 Jul Sixteen days old. Cooing brings many peeps from squab but it is semi-belligerent and in danger 

of stepping backward off nest. Primaries: sheath plus feather 2.3 inches (60 mm) (#1) and 3.31 

inches (84 mm) (#10), feather 1.46 inches (37 mm) (#1) and 2.68 inches (68 mm) (#10). Tail: 

sheath plus feather 1.85 inches (47 mm) (middle), feather 1.10 inches (28 mm) (middle). Head 

(hind) pinfeathers still mainly unopened. Yellowish down attached to most of breast, wing 

coverts, head and dorsal tract feathers. 

30 Jul Nineteen days old. Still peeps at cooing but suspicious of observer. Last day able to approach 

for measuring. Primaries: sheath plus feather 2.83 inches (72 mm) (#1) and 3.54 inches (90 

mm) (#10). Tail: sheath plus feather 2.76 inches (70 mm) (middle), feather portion 1.93 inches 

(49 mm) (middle). Exposed head, majority pinfeathers open except base of bill. Most of down 

picked off outer wing coverts, secondaries, and primaries. Much down in row above each eye, 

around base of neck and breast. 

2 Aug Twenty-two days old. Flew with a couple of wing beats to nearby limb. Unable to measure 

squab in hand today. Pinfeathers under base of bill still to open. Most yellow down gone. 

Bill color dull yellow at base of bill. 

Appendix B Tables 63
64 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 8. Band-tailed pigeon nesting success for nests located on Eliza (E), Lummi (L), and Vendovi (V) 

islands with predator control (PC) and without predator control (NPC), Washington, 1952–1953. 

 Year (area) 

PC NPC 

Parameter 1952 (E) 1953 (L,V) Subtotal 1953 (E) Total 

Nests (no.) 20 7 27 30 57 

Successful (no.) 15 4 19 10 29 

Unsuccessful (no.) 5 3 8 20 28 

Success rate (%) 75.0 57.1 70.4 33.3 50.9 
Name of Section 65

 Todd A. Sanders © 
66 Natural History of Band-tailed Pigeons on Eliza Island 

Department of the Interior, 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 

1849 C Street NW 

Washington, DC 20240 

http://www.fws.gov 

December 2020