Associated Species: Other species that may use habitat in a similar way and/or respond similarly to threats, management, and conservation activities include Wild Turkey, Plumbeous Vireo, Virginia's Warbler, and Black-headed Grosbeak.

Distribution: Two separate populations exist: a coastal population along the West Coast from west-central British Columbia south to northern Baja, and an interior population from southeastern Wyoming to north-central Utah south to west-central Mexico. In Physiographic Area 87 in Colorado, populations are concentrated in the southwestern quarter of the state, with lower numbers throughout the area in appropriate habitat. Birds in this area are of the interior subspecies (C.f. fasciata).

Habitat Requirements: In Colorado, these birds breed primarily in ponderosa pine forests and Gambel oak shrublands, but also occasionally in pinyon pine, lodgepole pine, and spruce-fir forests.

Ecology: Birds arrive in the region as early as late March; by mid October, most have left for wintering areas in the southern U.S. south to Central America. The diet consists of Gambel oak acorns, pinyon nuts, seeds, and cultivated grains. Band-tailed Pigeons regularly visit feedlots that lie within their foraging range.

Management Issues and Conservation Recommendations: Band-tailed Pigeons are hunted in Colorado, although hunter activity and harvest are low. Detailed information on the preferred habitat of the birds inhabiting Colorado is lacking, hampering conservation efforts and precluding formulation of management recommendations as related to timber harvest and prescribed burns. Obvious needs of the species include good mast and fruit crops. Identify and remove the most productive oak, serviceberry, and chokecherry stands from big game and livestock range conversion projects. Retain large pines for nesting and roosting.

Status and Reasons for Concern: This species is on the national Watch List, indicating a high conservation need throughout its range. Band-tailed Pigeons are not adequately monitored by the BBS within Physiographic Area 87, and the data collected during 1966-1996 are too sparse for meaningful analysis of trends. However, BBS data for 1966-1996 reveal a statistically significant, survey-wide annual rate of decline (P = 0.01; n = 191 routes). Band-tailed Pigeons were present on an average of 4.15% (SE = 2.08) of the BBS routes run in Physiographic Area 87 in Colorado, 1988-1997, at an average abundance of 0.11 (SE = 0.06) individuals per route. The mean number of routes run each year was 11.4 (SE = 1.55). This species is monitored by CDOW.

Biological Objective: Maintain or increase the species' distribution and abundance, based upon results of the BBS and MCB monitoring programs.

Selected References: Andrews and Righter 1992, Braun 1994, Gutiérrez et al. 1975, Kingery 1998.