Columbina passerina
L 6 1/2" (17 cm).

Song or calls:
Soft ascending “wah-up.”

more images

photo by Phil Swanson

Description: Plumage has scaly appearence. Short, black tail; large black spots on wings; orange bill with black tip; and rufous primaries that are most conspicous in flight. Male has blue crown; purplish wash on face, neck, and breast; and brown mantle. Female is more uniform, with a brownish-gray mantle and pale gray underparts; lacks blue crown.

Habitat: Forages on open ground in mesquite, brushy rangelands, and on roadsides.

Where in Nebraska: Hypothetical. Reportedly seen in Lincoln, Lancaster County in 1976, and at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in 1979.

Field Notes: One of the world's smallest pigeons

Fun Facts: An incredibly fast flier.