This is the largest pigeon in North America, and California's only native pigeon. A close relative of the extinct passenger pigeon, it harbors the parasitic louse Columbicola extinctus, earlier believed to have become extinct with the passenger pigeon [Wikipedia 2016]. While not endangered, its numbers have been declining in recent years, after a comeback from a hunting-induced decline. California has two nine-day hunting seasons for this bird. The bag limit is 2 and the possession limit is 6. I was able to grab a few photos as it flew by.