Morning Flight - Identification
Pigeons, Doves, Cuckoos

Rock Pigeon - ROPI

Generally large and distinctive. Many sightings may involve local movements and not migratory flights. This species also makes routine circuits to water sources. Will travel alone or in small to moderate flocks. 

• All white, or atypically plumaged individuals, are frequently observed at some locations. These may involve recently released individuals, or competitive homing pigeons. Occasionally they will settle at "dead end" locations, are often banded, and may be quite tame. 

• Rarely, "other" domesticated varieties are observed, which have atypical GISS. This includes a very large breed with long wings which may occasionally make prolonged stiff-winged glides, strongly recalling a large falcon. Observers may be quick to assume they are seeing something "different" such as a vagrant Band-tailed Pigeon. 

Mourning Dove - MODO

Regularly observed, with flights of several hundred recorded in Mar-Apr. Very swift and generally direct flight, often in small groups. Very pointed GISS different than other pigeon and dove species. 

Travels to and from roost sites daily which may cloud their true migratory intentions outside of peak spring flights. 

• Beware molting birds as well as recently fledged juveniles from May-Aug which can demonstrate atypical GISS. 

• Males in spring will also escort passage birds for some distance before returning back to their territories. 

Eurasian Collared-Dove - EUCD

First impression usually closer to Rock Pigeon than Mourning Dove due to large size and more rounded GISS than the "pointy" GISS of Mourning Dove. Gray vent can be surprisingly evident in flight helping to eliminate released African Collared-Dove (aka Ringed Turtle Dove). 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - YBCU

Surprisingly regular participant in morning flight. Swooping / rowing flight distinctive as a cuckoo with experience. Reddish flash in primaries, plus overall warm brown tone, are often key features for field ID. Yellow on bill and white undertail spots are usually harder to see. Probability also aids somewhat in identification over BBCU. 

• Fall movements may be difficult to classify? See the Pelee 2022 Morning Flight Case Study.

Black-billed Cuckoo - BBCU

Rarely observed in flight - which is in stark contrast to YBCU. Check primaries for the reddish flash of yellow-billed vs. the cool slate-toned brown of Black-billed.

It's unclear if this species would participate in adverse weather reverse migration.