Pigeons and doves (Columbidae)
Baby band-tailed pigeons: from egg to fledgling
A Band-tailed Pigeon lays 1–2 eggs. They hatch after 18–20 days, and the young leave the nest 25–30 days later — about 43–50 days from egg to fledgling.
- Eggs per clutch
- 1–2 eggs
- Incubation
- 18–20 days
- Time in the nest
- 25–30 days
- Egg to fledgling
- About 43–50 days
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Nest
- Flimsy twig platform on a tree branch
- Uses nest boxes
- No
Stage by stage
- Eggs (18–20 days): 1–2 eggs per clutch. Most songbirds start incubating when the last or second-to-last egg is laid, so the young hatch close together; owls and hawks start with the first egg, so their chicks hatch days apart.
- Nestlings (25–30 days): the young hatch with little or no down and their eyes closed. They grow fast on a diet the parents bring in. In the breeding season band-tailed pigeons mainly eat elderberry, madrone and cherry fruit.
- Fledglings: after leaving the nest, young band-tailed pigeons are fully feathered but short-tailed and clumsy. They spend days to weeks on low branches or the ground while the parents keep feeding them.
- More broods: 1–2 per season. Pairs often start a new nest soon after the first young become independent.
When band-tailed pigeons nest, state by state
Nesting starts earliest in Arizona (Mar) and latest in Montana (May). Months are estimates from regional breeding data shifted for latitude.
| State / province | Nesting season |
|---|---|
| Arizona | Mar–Aug |
| California | Mar–Aug |
| Colorado | Apr–Aug |
| Idaho | Apr–Aug |
| Montana | May–Aug |
| Nevada | Apr–Aug |
| New Mexico | Apr–Aug |
| Oregon | Apr–Aug |
| Texas | Mar–Aug |
| Utah | Apr–Aug |
| Washington | Apr–Aug |
| Wyoming | May–Aug |
Found a baby Band-tailed Pigeon?
- Feathered, hopping, can grip your finger: a fledgling. This is a normal stage. Keep pets and children away and watch from a distance; the parents are usually close by.
- Bare skin or only pin feathers: a nestling that fell. If you can see the nest, put it back. Touching it won't make the parents abandon it — that is a myth.
- Injured, cold, covered in flies, or caught by a cat: contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. In the US and Canada, ahnow.org finds the nearest one.
- Don't give water or food. Baby birds can choke, and the wrong food can kill them.
More about band-tailed pigeons
Frequently asked
How long do baby band-tailed pigeons stay in the nest?
About 25–30 days after hatching. Eggs take 18–20 days to hatch, so it is roughly 43–50 days from the last egg to the young leaving.
How many eggs does a Band-tailed Pigeon lay?
1–2 eggs per clutch, with 1–2 per season.
Where do band-tailed pigeons nest?
Flimsy twig platform on a tree branch.
What should I do if I find a baby Band-tailed Pigeon on the ground?
If it has feathers and hops, it is a fledgling and its parents are almost certainly nearby — leave it. If it is naked or has pin feathers, put it back in the nest if you can. Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if it is injured.