Passenger Pigeon

About the Passenger Pigeon

The passenger pigeon or wild pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) is an extinct species of pigeon that was endemic to North America. Its common name is derived from the French word passager, meaning "passing by", due to the migratory habits of the species. The scientific name also refers to its migratory characteristics. The morphologically similar mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) was long thought to be its closest relative, and the two were at times confused, but genetic analysis has shown that the genus Patagioenas is more closely related to it than the Zenaida doves. The passenger pigeon was sexually dimorphic in size and coloration.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name

Ectopistes migratorius

Family

Pigeons and Doves

Order

Columbiformes

Similar species

Other members of the pigeons and doves family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

• African Collared-Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea
• Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata
• Blue Ground Dove Claravis pretiosa
• Caribbean Dove Leptotila jamaicensis
• Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina
• Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus
• Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes
• Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata
• Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
• European Turtle-Dove Streptopelia turtur
• Gray-chested Dove Leptotila cassinii
• Gray-headed Dove Leptotila plumbeiceps