Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
COLUMBIDAE Members: Band-tailed Pigeon 320
General Comments
This Western pigeon is a species of montane forests, both coniferous and hardwood, though preferring somewhat dry areas. The Band-tailed Pigeon has no close relatives in North America, and it ranges well into South America (along the Andes chain). There are scattered records in eastern North America, where records committees must consider the potential origin of such birds, even though it is unlikely that the species is often kept in captivity, and the species is migratory in the United States. There are several North Carolina records, and the species is on the Official List.
Breeding Status
Nonbreeder
NC BRC List
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
SA
Global Rank
G4
Coastal Plain
Accidental. The only record is one well photographed in a yard in Manteo from 7 Jan - 17 Apr 2014* (Chat 78:71), (Chat 78:107) (Chat 79:12). Photos are on the Carolina Bird Club Photo Gallery.
Piedmont
Accidental. The only record is one seen and photographed in a semi-wooded residential area in Charlotte, from 1 Feb - 31 Mar 1994* (Chat 59:35).
Mountain
Accidental. One seen on 10 Jun 1980 at Fetterbush Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway (Haywood)* (Chat 44:106-107) was accepted, but as no photographs were taken, the species was added only to the Provisional List at that time. "Two birds were heard and recorded near the Devil's Courthouse area of the Blue Ridge Parkway" (Chat 66:32) on 16 Jun 2001. This is the third state report, and it is remarkably close to the location and time of the 1980 report. However, the NC BRC did not review the report because no recordings were available.
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