Hill Pigeon
Columba rupestris
Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderColumbiformes (Pigeons and Doves)
- FamilyColumbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
- GenusColumba (Typical Old World Pigeons)
- SpeciesColumba rupestris (Hill Pigeon)
About the Hill Pigeon
The hill pigeon (Columba rupestris) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. Other names include eastern rock dove and Turkestan hill dove. The hill pigeon is a stout-bodied pigeon, similar in size and general appearance to the rock dove (Columba livia) but mainly differentiated by its tail pattern which consists of a broad, white tail-band across the black tail. Other differences include a paler mantle and upper wings and a white patch on the back. In flight, the tail pattern is similar to the snow pigeon (Columba leuconota), but lacks the contrast between the head and neck in that species.
Two subspecies are accepted: C. r. rupestris, described by Pallas in 1811, is found in the northeastern part of the species' distribution. C. r. turkestanica, described by Buturlin in 1908, is found in the southwestern part of the species' distribution.
It is found in China, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Kazakhstan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. This pigeon is comparatively restricted in range of Pakistan to the furthest northern inner valleys of the Karakoram... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Hill Pigeon in Khangchendzonga National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Khangchendzonga National Park
Snow Pigeon
Columba leuconota
Speckled Wood Pigeon
Columba hodgsonii
Ashy Wood Pigeon
Columba pulchricollis
Oriental Turtle Dove
Streptopelia orientalis
Barred Cuckoo-Dove
Macropygia unchall
Wedge-tailed Green-Pigeon
Treron sphenurus
Pearl-necked Dove
Spilopelia chinensis
Asian Emerald Dove
Chalcophaps indica
Pin-tailed Green-Pigeon
Treron apicauda
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park | 🇲🇳 Mongolia | |
| 2 | Khangchendzonga National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 3 | Langtang National Park | 🇳🇵 Nepal |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Hill Pigeon in Khangchendzonga National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Hill Pigeon sighting in Khangchendzonga National Park, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Hill Pigeon in Khangchendzonga National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Hill Pigeon in Khangchendzonga National Park in our monthly data.