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Field Guide for all the Birds of North America

Pigeons

Pigeons

Columbidae

Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities

There are now four known types of pigeons seen in North America. Of these four pigeon species, the Rock Pigeon, formerly known as the Rock Dove, is the most common among them. This bird species is an introduced bird from Europe and is now seen throughout the North American continent, having adapted to towns and cities and is regularly seen around farmlands. The Band-tailed Pigeon is the second most abundant pigeon and is found throughout the mountain ranges in western North America and into the southwestern states. The White-crowned pigeon is found in southern Florida and is a more common bird seen in the tropical southern regions. The Red-billed Pigeon is also a bird seen in the extreme southern areas of Texas and is a common bird found throughout Mexico and the southern tropics.

Pigeons are considered gamebirds and are hunted throughout the southern areas of North America. As in the case of most gamebirds, overhunting became a problem until laws were created to protect them. These laws were not put into place in time to save the Passenger Pigeon, which was a bird that was once seen in the millions but became extinct at the start of the 20th century.

Click on the bird images or names to see pictures of the Pigeons seen in North America

Band-tailed Pigeon

Passenger Pigeon

Red-billed Pigeon

Rock Pigeon

Scaly-naped Pigeon

White-crowned Pigeon

References to Other Bird Sites:

Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.

ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.

I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.

Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB