Band-tailed pigeons ovulate in British Columbia from May through July although apparently not all females do so early in the breeding season. Males are in breeding condition when they arrive after the northward migration in April and remain so until late July. Evidence suggests that two clutches (one egg each) may be produced during the breeding season. The female's ability to ovulate white crop feeding the squab provides additional evidence of two clutches. Four stages of crop gland development are described in detail and the usefulness of this gland to indicate breeding status is demonstrated. Many birds had active crops when shot during the hunting season indicating a potentially reduced recruitment of the squabs being fed at this time.
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