140 
PIGEONS 
313. Columba flavirostris Wagl. Red-billed Pigeon. 
Adult male. — Head, neck, and under parts dull pinkish purple , except 
for tawny chin, 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- 
14.60, wing about 7.50-7.80, tail 5.40-5.50. 
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. 
Adult 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 changing 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 parts 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, 
Wisconsin, and Michigan. 
GENUS ZENAIDURA. 
316. Zenaidura macroura (Linn.). 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. 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 grayish 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 
Fig. 208. 
