Zenaida macroura

Widespread and abundant

Open and semi-open areas; prairie, lightly wooded areas, agricultural and suburban areas.

Seeds

9″ to 13″

This is a medium sized, 9″ to 13″ long, slender bird with a wingspan of 15″ to 18″. It weighs 3 to 6 ounces.

The adult male head, neck, breast, and belly are mostly light brown. The top of the head and nape of the neck are bluish gray. The face, throat, and breast have a pinkish tint. The neck feathers have a pink iridescence. The back and upper wings are grayish brown. The rumb is not white. The wings have large black spots. The tail is dark brown or gray, long, and tapered, the inner feathers longer than the outer ones. The 3 outermost tail feathers have white tips bordered by black.

The head is small and rounded. There is a small black spot just below and a little behind the eye. The eyes are dark and are surrounded by blue skin. The beak is short, thin, and dark.

The legs are short and reddish. The feet are reddish with 3 toes forward and one toe back.

The female is similar to the male but less colorful. The top of the head and nape of the neck are olive gray. The face and throat are olive brown. The breast is tan. The neck feathers have an olive green, sometimes with pink, iridescence. The 1 or 2 outermost tail feathers have white tips bordered by black.

On taking flight the wings produce a light, airy whistle and clap at the top and bottom of the stroke.

Rock pigeon (Columba livia) is a somewhat larger, much chunkier bird, 11″ to 14″ long, 9.3 to 13.4 ounces, with a wingspan of 20″ to 26″. The wings are broader. The tail is square with no white markings. The rump is white.

Breeding: (map)

Winter: Southern third of the state