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WereSpielChequers: /* Behaviour and ecology */Typo fixing, replaced: as and → as using AWB

2017-02-25T16:54:48Z

‎Behaviour and ecology: Typo fixing, replaced: as and → as using AWB

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{{Taxobox
| name = Hill pigeon
| image = Hill Pigeon, near Dras, Jammu and Kashmir, India.jpg
| image_caption = Hill pigeon, near Dras, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{IUCN|id=22690074 |title=''Columba rupestris'' |assessor=BirdLife International |assessor-link=BirdLife International |version=2013.2 |year=2012 |accessdate=26 November 2013}}</ref>
| regnum = [[Animalia]]
| phylum = [[Chordata]]
| classis = [[Aves]]
| ordo = [[Columbiformes]]
| familia = [[Columbidae]]
| genus = ''[[Columba (genus)|Columba]]''
| species = '''''C. rupestris'''''
| binomial = ''Columba rupestris''
| binomial_authority = [[Peter Simon Pallas|Pallas]], 1811
| synonyms = }}
The '''hill pigeon''' or '''eastern rock dove''' or '''Turkestan hill dove''' (''Columba rupestris'') is a species of [[bird]] in the family [[Columbidae]].

== Description ==
The hill pigeon is a stout bodied pigeon, very similar in size and general appearance to the [[Columba livia|rock pigeon]], but mainly differentiated by its tail pattern which consist 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]], but lacks the contrast between the head and neck in that species.

== Taxonomy and systematics ==
Two races are recognized:
* ''turkestanica'', described by Buturlin, is found in the western range of distribution
* ''rupestris'', described by Pallas, is found in the eastern range of distribution

== Distribution and status ==
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, Hindu Kush and [[Pamirs]]. In Pakistan it occurs in northern [[Chitral]] particularly in the western part bordering [[Nuristan]] in Afghanistan, further east in valleys of [[Gilgit]] in [[Yasin Valley|Yasin]] and [[Hunza (princely state)|Hunza]] and Karakoram ranges in [[Baltistan]] from about 2000 meters in winter up to 5500 meters during summer months. Though the overall population is decreasing, since the rate of decrease is not alarming and the bird is widely distributed and abundant, it is classified as "[[Least Concern]]" by [[IUCN]].<ref name=IUCN/>

== Behaviour and ecology ==
This species frequents open rugged country from 1,500 to 6,100 meters. Closely related to the rock pigeon but more commonly found at higher altitudes.<ref>{{cite book| last =Gibbs | first =David |author2=Eustace Barnes |author3=John Cox | title =Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World | publisher =Pica Press | location =United Kingdom | pages =624 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=aeZXAAAACAAJ&dq=Pigeons+and+Doves:+A+Guide+to+the+Pigeons+and+Doves+of+the+World| doi = | id = | isbn =1-873403-60-7 }}</ref> A gregarious species throughout the year, they feed in flocks in the terraced cultivated fields. They often mix with flocks of rock pigeons. They are very tame and are often found near human settlements, camps and pilgrimage routes.<ref name=pcr>{{cite book|author=Rasmussen PC|author2=JC Anderton|last-author-amp=yes | year=2005| title= Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Volume 2|page=205| publisher=Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicions}}</ref>

In [[Tajikistan]] it has been recorded as starting to nest as early as February with many young just fledging as late as September in northeastern Tibet. The males have a bowing display similar to that of the rock pigeon and nothing distinctive seems to have been recorded elsewhere about the display of this pigeon which suggests that display and courtship is similar. They nest in dense colonies on cliffs, gorges and rocky outcrops. In Tibet, the nests are often placed houses, both inhabited and empty or in holes in the wall.<ref name=fbi2>{{cite book|pages=222–223| title=Fauna of British India. Birds|volume=5| edition=2nd| author=Baker, ECS|url=https://archive.org/stream/BakerFbiBirds5/BakerFBI5#page/n242/mode/1up |publisher=Taylor and Francis, London| year=1928}}</ref> Nest consists of a platform of twigs or plant stem in which generally two eggs are laid. They may raise two brood in a year.<ref name=fbi2/>

Their feeding habits are similar to rock pigeons, being mainly [[Seed predation|granivorous]], supplementing their diet with green shoot and leaves and occasionally small mollusks such as snails. On some occasions, they become very opportunistic, feeding on leftover food, partially digested food from [[kiang]] dung and even undigested food from stomach of kiang carcass which are ripped open by other predators.<ref>{{cite journal|author= Francis M.|author2= Clement |year=2005| title=Birds of Ladakh| journal= Indian Birds| volume=1| issue=5| pages=109–114}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/hill-pigeon-columba-rupestris Photos, Videos]

{{DEFAULTSORT:pigeon, hill}}
[[Category:Columba (genus)|hill pigeon]]
[[Category:Birds of China]]
[[Category:Birds of the Himalayas]]
[[Category:Birds of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Birds of Korea]]
[[Category:Birds of Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:Birds of Tajikistan]]
[[Category:Birds of Tibet]]
[[Category:Birds of Yunnan]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1811|hill pigeon]]

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