Hill pigeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hill pigeon |
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| Hill pigeon, near Dras, Jammu and Kashmir, India | |
| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Columba
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| Species: |
rupestris
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The hill pigeon is a cool bird that lives in the mountains! It's also called the eastern rock dove or Turkestan hill dove. Its scientific name is Columba rupestris. This pigeon is part of the Columbidae family, which includes all sorts of doves and pigeons.
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All About the Hill Pigeon
What Does It Look Like?
The hill pigeon is a strong, medium-sized bird. It looks a lot like the common rock dove you might see in cities. But there are some key differences!
The easiest way to tell them apart is by their tail. The hill pigeon has a wide, white band across its black tail. Imagine a white stripe on a dark tail – that's it! Its upper body and wings are also a bit lighter in color. Plus, it has a white patch on its back. When it flies, its tail pattern looks a bit like the snow pigeon. However, the snow pigeon has a clearer difference in color between its head and neck.
Where Do Hill Pigeons Live?
Hill pigeons live in many countries across Asia. You can find them in places like China, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Kazakhstan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan.
In Pakistan, they mostly live in the far northern valleys. These include the Karakoram, Hindu Kush, and Pamirs mountains. They can be found in areas like northern Chitral, Gilgit, and Hunza. They live at different heights depending on the season. In winter, they might be around 2,000 meters (about 6,500 feet) high. But in summer, they can go as high as 5,500 meters (about 18,000 feet)!
Even though their total number is slowly going down, there are still many hill pigeons around. They are spread out over a large area. Because of this, the IUCN (a group that tracks animal populations) says they are of "least concern". This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
How Do Hill Pigeons Behave?
Hill pigeons love open, rugged areas. They live in mountains from about 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) up to 6,100 meters (20,000 feet) above sea level. They are very similar to rock doves, but they prefer higher places.
These birds like to be together. They live in groups all year round. They often feed in flocks in farm fields. Sometimes, they even join flocks of rock doves. Hill pigeons are quite friendly and often hang out near people. You might see them near towns, camps, or along paths used by pilgrims.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
In Tajikistan, hill pigeons can start building nests as early as February. In northeastern Tibet, young birds can still be leaving the nest as late as September. This means they have a long breeding season!
Male hill pigeons do a special bowing dance to attract females. Their courtship and mating rituals are similar to those of the rock dove. They build their nests in large groups, often on cliffs, in deep valleys, or on rocky outcrops. In Tibet, some nests are even found inside houses, whether people live there or not, or in holes in walls.
Their nests are usually a simple platform made of twigs or plant stems. Female pigeons typically lay two eggs. They can raise two sets of chicks in one year!
What Do Hill Pigeons Eat?
Hill pigeons eat much like rock doves do. They mostly eat seeds. This is called being "granivorous." But they also eat other things to get all the nutrients they need. They might eat green shoots and leaves. Sometimes, they even eat small snails.
They can be very clever about finding food. They might eat leftover food from humans. They've even been seen eating partially digested food from the droppings of kiangs (a type of wild donkey). And sometimes, they'll eat undigested food from the stomachs of kiang carcasses that other animals have opened up.
