Survival and Movements of Band-tailed Pigeons in New Mexico, 2013

Band-tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata) are distributed from higher elevations of South America, through Middle America, and into North America (Figure 1). It inhabits forested areas across its range and there are 3 subspecies in North America: P.f. monilis (“Pacific Coast”), P.f.vioscae (“Baja”), and P.f.fasciata (“Interior”). Studies were conducted from the 1960’s through 1980’s that described the movement, demographics, and natural history of “Interior” Band-tailed pigeons (Gutíerrez et al. 1975, Stabler et al. 1977, White and Braun 1978, Curtis and Braun 1983, Kautz and Braun 1981, White and Braun 1990, Keppie and Braun 2000). The data gathered from that period is the only data available to guide conservation and management of the species in New Mexico.