How long do band-tailed pigeons live?
The oldest Band-tailed Pigeon on record lived to 18.5 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild band-tailed pigeons live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 18.5 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 1–2 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Size
- 13–15.7 in, 7.9–12 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 4 of 6
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Band-tailed Pigeon can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Band-tailed pigeons usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 1–2 eggs and raises 1–2 per season, with eggs taking 18–20 days to hatch.
How band-tailed pigeons compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other pigeons and doves on this site.
- Rock Pigeon35 years
- Mourning Dove31.3 years
- White-winged Dove25 years
- Eurasian Collared-Dove17.9 years
- Inca Dove13.3 years
More about band-tailed pigeons
Frequently asked
How long do band-tailed pigeons live?
The longest-lived Band-tailed Pigeon on record reached 18.5 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild band-tailed pigeons live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Band-tailed Pigeon when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Band-tailed Pigeon ever recorded?
18.5 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Band-tailed Pigeon raise in a year?
Pairs lay 1–2 eggs and raise 1–2 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "large". genomics.senescence.info