140 PIGEONS 



313. Columba flavirostris Wagl. Red-billed Pigeon. 



Adult male. — Head, neck, and under parts dull piiiJcish 2mrple, except 

 for tawny cliin, slaty belly and under tail coverts ; wing- coverts with red- 

 dish brown patch, fore part of neck brownish, hinder part, wings, and tail 

 bluish gray, blackish on quills and end of tail. Adult female : similar but 

 smaller and duller. Young : colors dull, tinged with ashy. Length : 13.75- 

 14.00, wing about 7.50-7.80, tail 5.4U-5.50. 



Distribution. — From southern parts of Texas and Lower California, 

 south through Mexico and Central America. 



Nest. — A platform of twigs, in thickets or groves of ash-trees. Egg : 

 white. 



The red-billed pigeon was found by Mr. Sennett in the timber of 

 the lower Rio Grande. He says it is a secluded bird, and that its 

 cooing is clear, short, and rather high-pitched. 



GENUS ECTOPISTES. 



315. Ectopistes migratorius {Linn.). Passenger Pigeon. 

 Tail nearly as long as wing, graduated, the feathers narrow and pointed 



at tips ; tarsus short, feathered part way down in front ; side toes unequal. 



Adidt male. — Head and neck bluish gray ; under parts deep pinkish 

 brown, becoming pinkish on sides and white on belly ; nape and sides of 

 head glossed with metallic reddish purple ; wings and back brown, wings 

 spotted with black ; rump bluish gray, tail ehanging from blackish on 

 middle feathers to white on outer webs of outer feathers ; inner webs with 

 black and rufous spots. Adult female : similar but head brownish, pink 

 of under parts replaced by brown ; metallic gloss less distinct. Young : 

 feathers of fore j)arts tipped with white, giving a mottled appearance, 

 quills edged with rusty. Length : 15.00-17.25, wing 8.00-8.50, tail 8.20- 

 8.75. Female somewhat smaller. 



Distribution. — Formerly eastern North America from Hudson Bay 

 southward, and west to the plains ; accidental in Nevada and Washington. 

 Now nearly extinct. A few pairs supposed to be left in Canada, Manitoba, 

 AVisconsin. and Michigan. 



GENUS ZENAIDURA. 



316. Zenaidura macroura (Xm«.). Mourning Dove. 



Tail of fourteen feathers, graduated, more than two thirds as long as 



wing ; feathers more or less narrowed 

 at tips ; wings pointed ; tarsus naked ; 

 side toes of unequal length, the outer 

 shortest ; space around the eye bare. 

 j,j^ ,,ns Adult male : tail bordered with white 



and with subterminal black spots ; back 

 and wings with a few roundish black spots ; rest of upper parts brown ; top 

 of head washed with bluish gray, sides of head with blue black spot and 

 pink iridescence ; under parts brownish, tinged with pink on breast. Adult 

 female : similar but paler throughout, with little if any bluish gray on head, 

 black ear spot smaller, and metallic gloss less distinct. Young : duller 

 than female, without metallic gloss or distinct ear spot ; feathers of upper 

 parts and breast with gravish tips. Length: 11-13, wing 5.70-6.10, tail 

 5.70--6.50, bill .50-.55. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Transition and Upper and Lower Sonoran zones 



