Columba rupestris
The Hill Pigeon, *Columba rupestris*, is a robust, medium-sized pigeon, typically measuring 31-35 cm (12-14 inches) in length with a wingspan around 63-70 cm and weighing 250-350g. Its plumage is predominantly ashy-grey, distinguished by a prominent pure white patch on the hindneck, a pale whitish rump, and two distinct black bars across its folded wings. The tail is grey with a broad, dark black terminal band, while its head and breast are generally darker grey. Key field marks for identific...
Found primarily in high-altitude rocky terrain, cliffs, gorges, and open valleys, often above the treeline. It typically occurs between 1,500 to 6,000 meters elevation, occasionally near remote mountain villages.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on seeds of grasses, weeds, and cultivated grains like wheat, barley, and millet. It forages by gleaning seeds and shoots directly from the ground.
Diurnal in activity, the Hill Pigeon is an expert ground gleaner, spending its days foraging in open alpine meadows, fallow fields, and cultivated land, often near human settlements at lower elevations. Outside the breeding season, these pigeons are highly gregarious, forming large flocks, someti...
The Hill Pigeon boasts an extensive breeding range spanning the rugged high-altitude regions of Central Asia, the Himalayas, and vast parts of China and Mongolia. It is found from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in the west, eastward through Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal,...
Least Concern
- The Hill Pigeon is a true high-altitude champion, regularly found foraging and breeding at elevations up to 6,000 meters (nearly 20,000 feet) in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. - It is one of the closest wild relatives to the common Rock Dove (*Columba livia*), from which most domestic pigeo...