(Ectopistes migratorius).
Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius), a species of pigeon, a native of North America. The genus to which it belongs has the head small, the bill short, the tail very long and wedge-shaped, the wings long and pointed. The male of the passenger species, generally known in North America as the Wild Pigeon, is about 16½ inches long, the tail increasing the length to 25 inches. The colour is grayish blue above, breast and sides reddish brown, rest of the under parts white. The female is smaller and duller coloured than the male. They migrate at irregular intervals in enormous flocks (of many millions at times) seeking for food, and are killed in large numbers, their flesh being dark coloured, but good eating. The passenger pigeon is found throughout temperate North America.