Red-billed Pigeon

The Red-billed Pigeon is one of the most beautiful Pigeons in the world. Although in size and form they seem no different, their plumes are stunningly unique and are guaranteed to stop any fortunate observer in their tracks. They have a limited range, remaining in regions throughout Mexico and Central America almost exclusively. As a result, they are extremely rare in the United States are typically only found in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.

About Red-billed Pigeons

Unfortunately, these birds are very poorly known. A few noted ornithologists made a few observations on their nesting, breeding, and their dietary habits during the breeding seasons. Beyond that, much of their social contexts are still largely unknown. It is known, however, that they hold many similarities to other pigeons in terms of behavior. Despite that, they capture everyone’s attention simply because they are so stunningly beautiful. Today, we will be covering the story of these mysterious birds. From what little is known, they have a delightful story to tell.

● Red-billed Pigeon Photos, Color Pattern, Song
● Red-billed Pigeon Size, Eating Behavior, Habitat
● Red-billed Pigeon Range and Migration, Nesting

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Red-billed Pigeon Color Pattern

Adults of these birds are dark-grayish or bluish-gray pigeons. Their mantles are a dull brownish-gray while their underparts are a light gray. Their head, neck, and breast are all a reddish-purple. The tail only adds to these shades and perfectly blends in with a dark slate gray to grayish black. Their bills, after which they are named, are pale yellow with a red base. Their red eyes seem to stand out with these shades, along with their dark red legs.

Both sexes look similar in appearance, but females are generally duller and browner than males. Their head is more brown-tinged, along with the crown and breast, unlike the purple sheen of males. Juveniles look similar to females, with only a slight trace of purple on the back of their neck, along with paler tails and flight feathers. Their flight feathers are also tinged with a pale brown, giving them a scaly appearance. Both sexes look alike among Juveniles.

Description and Identification

The easiest way to spot these shifty birds is by their unique appearances. Their shape, form, behaviors, and calls resemble the Rock Pigeons we are so familiar with, but their colors are what make them stand out. They are also only found in warmer regions like the Rio Grande Valley, with their populations preferring the warmer, tropical regions in Mexico and Central America. If you happen to be in the area, remember to scan dense canopies and thickly wooded areas, and you might just catch a glimpse of their renowned purple sheen.

Red-billed Pigeon Song

Like other pigeons, they do not have a very wide range of calls. The variations in their vocalization have not particularly been studied, apart from the various coo sounds they make. Their song consists of an introductory “coo” that is repeated 2-5 times, best rendered as “coooo, up-cup-a-coo, up-cup-a-coo, up,cup-a-coo”. This is done several times before preceding notes that sound like “woo, cuk’c’c’oooo” are inculcated into the song. Other calls include a loud whoo that is repeated multiple times, along with a 2-note “whoao whoao” heard from a bird sitting on a nest. Courtship calls include a loud “ooWOOW ooWOOW”, though the context behind this is also unknown. A presumed distracting call that sounds like a growl “rrrrrwhoa rrrrwhoa” which was also heard from a bird that hopping from tree to tree.

Red-billed Pigeon Size

Red-billed Pigeons are medium to large birds that have a body length of 12-15 inches and an approximate weight of 8.1-15 ounces. They are plump birds with small heads and short legs. Their wings are broad and pointed, with a wingspan of 20-29 inches. They also have a rounded tail that is similar to that of Rock Pigeons. These birds are generally smaller than the common Crows.

Red-billed Pigeon Behavior

These birds are rarely ever seen on the ground, choosing to spend almost all of their time fluttering from branch to branch. They are strong fliers that take direct and steady flights. There is little to no information on their preening habits, but it is assumed that they stretch and make use of stormwater like many other Pigeons. They roost in trees with thicker canopies for shelter. They tend to roost at night as well as during the hottest parts of the day.

When these birds are disturbed or need to make an escape, they take a stance that involves raising their wings with their feathers upright and spread out. They are usually found in pairs or in small groups but disperse individually when required. These birds are active throughout the day. They start foraging approximately an hour after daybreak and are most definitely involved in finding and consuming food during noon hours.

The sexual behavior of these Pigeons is not well studied and could use more research. As they are commonly found in pairs, they are assumed to be monogamous, although there is no concrete evidence to confirm this. Their courtship involves displays and calls to advertise themselves, mostly observed in males. They are also presumed to be territorial, and aggressive during the breeding season due to limited records of aggressive encounters. Currently, there is not much information on the formation of a pair bond and if they exhibit extra-pair copulation.

Red-billed Pigeon Diet

Like most other Pigeons, they primarily feed on berries, seeds, nuts, and other plant-based items. Their diet is not fully known in detail, but they probably make use of the abundance of fruits and berries available in tropical climates. They feed on a wide variety of wild berries, including those of hackberry, mistletoe, wild fig, and many other plants. They will also eat acorns if available, along with seeds of a variety of plants. Although they have never been assumed to eat insects, recent findings of other pigeons consuming insects when needed have made scientists wonder if Red-billed Pigeons also consume insect prey. It is possible since many bird species use insects to provide growing chicks and egg-laying mothers with sufficient protein.

Red-billed Pigeon Habitat

Red-billed Pigeons inhabit densely wooded areas with undisturbed trees of hackberry, mesquite, huisache, ebony, bald cypress, Mexican ash, Texas sugarberry, and black willow. They settle in tropical deciduous forests primarily but may be seen in the lower subtropical zones in the vicinity as well. Some minor populations in Central America were also found to inhabit arid open or semi-open countries as well. Although they prefer regions that remain warm throughout the year, they tend to stay away from the more humid regions of rain forests.

Range and Migration

These Pigeons love their warm climates and are usually permanent residents of their habitats. They do not migrate and generally remain within their native habitats all their life, though they make nomadic expeditions in the vicinity to forage. Populations in the Rio Grande Valley; however, may migrate very short distances to places just further south to get some refuge from the cold winters.

Red-billed Pigeon Lifecycle

Red-billed Pigeons only have one brood each year, typically 1 white egg with each clutch. On rare occasions, they may lay 2 eggs. It can also be assumed that these birds raise more than one brood in the warmer regions of their range. While incubation is mostly by both parents, the incubation period is still not well-known. It is similar to that of other pigeons, it can be assumed to be at least 2 weeks. When the eggs hatch, the chicks most likely emerge completely helpless and are likely fed “pigeon milk” by their parents. Unfortunately, the age at which they learn to fly and become independent along with other developmental stages is not known.

Nesting

Their nesting behavior is not well known, but the nest site is generally on a tree in a large shrub, or in a mat of tangled vines. These sites are usually 8-10 feet above the ground and are placed on a horizontal fork in a branch. It is unknown if males, females, or both build the nest, but it is a messy platform stick that is loosely lined with a softer material like grasses and stems. Any behaviors and consecutive actions that may be associated with territoriality are unknown.

Anatomy of a Red-billed Pigeon

Red-billed Pigeons are medium to large birds that have a body length of 12-15 inches and an approximate weight of 8.1-15 ounces. They are plump birds with small heads and short legs. Their wings are broad and pointed, with a wingspan of 20-29 inches. They also have a rounded tail that is similar to that of Rock Pigeons. These birds are generally smaller than the common Crows.

Final Thoughts

The scarce amounts of data on these birds, their conservation status is barely known. These birds are not hunted in the United States but are quite popular as game-bird in Mexico. American hunters often cross the border to hunt these Pigeons, with over a thousand hunted every year by the border. They presumably also face habitat loss at staggering rates, since deforestation is an ever-growing issue in the tropics of Mexico and Central America. In Texas alone, there was a reported 90% decrease in the trees and shrubs that they natively inhabit. The construction of the Falcon Dam in the Rio Grande Valley has also altered water circulation within the natural vegetation, leading to the death of many large trees.

These birds are curious heartbreakingly little-known. The amount of information that exists about these birds is minuscule compared to the more abundant Pigeons in the same regions. Despite birders and nonbirders alike knowing such few things about these birds, they have managed to keep the attention of observers and the people of surrounding regions captivated by them. Although they are still not very well-known, they are sure to be one of the most memorable ones if anyone manages to encounter them.

Ornithology

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Bird Watching Binoculars for IdentifyingRed-billed Pigeons

The most common types of bird watching binoculars for viewing Red-billed Pigeons are 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. Bird Watching Academy & Camp sells really nice 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. You can view and purchase them here.

Red-billed Pigeon Stickers

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Bird Feeders For Red-billed Pigeons

There are many types of bird feeders. Bird feeders are a great addition to your backyard. Bird feeders will increase the chances of attracting birds drastically. Both kids and adults will have a great time watching birds eat at these bird feeders. There are a wide variety of bird feeders on the market and it is important to find the best fit for you and your backyard.

Bird Houses For Red-billed Pigeons

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