Coastal Carolina

Zenaida macroura HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 10.5 inches * Sexes similar * Medium-sized, somewhat slender dove with very thin neck * Black bill Adult: * Pale buff-brown head, neck, breast, and belly * Purple and green iridescence on neck * Small black mark on lower neck * Medium brown back and upperwings, with large black spots on coverts * Long tail is pointed at tip * Dark brown tail with white tips to outer four tail feathers Juvenile: * Dark brown mottled head neck and breast * Scaly neck and upperwings with numerous black spots on coverts and scapulars * Pale belly * Medium length tail is pointed at tip Similar species: Long pointed tail is distinctive for adults, while black spotting on coverts and pale color help distinguish it from White-winged and White-tipped Doves. Juvenile is easily confused with Common Ground-Dove and Inca Dove, but is longer necked, shows a pointed tail with more white at edges and lacks cinnamon in primaries.

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HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 10.5 inches * Sexes similar * Medium-sized, somewhat slender dove with very thin neck * Black bill Adult: * Pale buff-brown head, neck, breast, and belly * Purple and green iridescence on neck * Small black mark on lower neck * Medium brown back and upperwings, with large black spots on coverts * Long tail is pointed at tip * Dark brown tail with white tips to outer four tail feathers Juvenile: * Dark brown mottled head neck and breast * Scaly neck and upperwings with numerous black spots on coverts and scapulars * Pale belly * Medium length tail is pointed at tip Similar species: Long pointed tail is distinctive for adults, while black spotting on coverts and pale color help distinguish it from White-winged and White-tipped Doves. Juvenile is easily confused with Common Ground-Dove and Inca Dove, but is longer necked, shows a pointed tail with more white at edges and lacks cinnamon in primaries.

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Columba livia HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 11 inches * The familiar "pigeon" of cities and parks * Sexes similar * Adult similar to juvenile * Large, chunky dove * Medium length tail is squared off at tip * Highly variable plumage (some can be entirely chestnut, white, black or anything in between) Typical color morph: * Dark bill * Dark gray head, neck and upper breast * Green and purple iridescence on hindneck * Pale gray back, wings and belly * Two dark bars on wings (formed from dark tips to secondaries and greater secondary coverts) * Dark gray primaries * White rump * Pale gray tail with black terminal band Similar species: Other pigeons are wholly dark with different head patterns. All other species lack double dark bar on wing and have darker wings and backs.

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