# Snow pigeon > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Snow_pigeon > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Snow_pigeon.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_pigeon > Source revision: 1315280397 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Species of bird native to central Asia}} {{Speciesbox | name = Snow pigeon | image = Snow-Pigeon Nathang Valley Sikkim 13.05.2014.jpg | image_caption = Snow pigeon from [Sikkim](/source/Sikkim), [India](/source/India). | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = {{cite iucn |author1=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Columba leuconota'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T22690077A93260137 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22690077A93260137.en |access-date=25 September 2021}} | genus = Columba | species = leuconota | authority = [Vigors](/source/Nicholas_Aylward_Vigors), 1831 | synonyms = }} The '''snow pigeon''' ('''''Columba leuconota''''') is a [species](/source/species) of [bird](/source/bird) in the genus ''[Columba](/source/Columba_(genus))'' in the family [Columbidae](/source/Columbidae) from hilly regions of central Asia. They are grey, black, pale brown and white birds and two [subspecies](/source/subspecies) are recognised: ''C. l. leuconota'' occurs in the [western Himalayas](/source/western_Himalayas) from western [Afghanistan](/source/Afghanistan) to [Sikkim](/source/Sikkim) and ''C. l. gradaria'' occurs in the mountains of [eastern Tibet](/source/eastern_Tibet) and from eastern Nan Shan ([Qinghai](/source/Qinghai)) to [Yunnan](/source/Yunnan) and extreme northern [Myanmar](/source/Myanmar). The birds forage in open country in pairs or small groups, feeding on grain, buds, shoots, berries and seeds. They roost at night on cliffs, breeding in crevices where they build untidy stick nests and lay a clutch of usually two white eggs. The [International Union for Conservation of Nature](/source/International_Union_for_Conservation_of_Nature) has rated the bird's [conservation status](/source/conservation_status) as being of [least concern](/source/Least-concern_species). == Description == thumb Snow pigeons have a blackish head contrasting with a white neck collar and white underparts shading into ashy on the abdomen. Their backs are brownish-grey with a white patch on the lower back. Their wings are pale grey with three brown bands. Their black tails have a clear white band in the middle which narrows and curve forward to reach the tip of the outermost tail features. Young birds have narrow, pale buff margins to the [feathers](/source/feathers) of the upper parts and wings. The white of the underparts is sullied with buff.{{cite book|author=Rasmussen PC|author2=JC Anderton|name-list-style=amp | year=2005| title= Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Volume 2|page=204| publisher=Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicions}}{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/BakerFbiBirds5/BakerFBI5#page/n243/mode/1up|pages=224–225|author=Baker, ECS|year=1928|publisher=Taylor and Francis, London|title=Fauna of British India. Birds. Volume 5|edition=2nd}} == Taxonomy and systematics == Two subspecies are recognized: * ''C. l. gradaria'', described by Hartert in 1916, is found in the mountains of eastern Tibet and from eastern Nan Shan (Qinghai) to Yunnan and extreme northern Myanmar. *'''Nepalese snow pigeon''' (''C. l. leuconota''), described by [Vigors](/source/Nicholas_Aylward_Vigors) in 1831, is found in the western Himalayas from western Afghanistan to Sikkim; it is a summer visitor to the [Alay Mountains](/source/Alay_Mountains) and [Pamir](/source/Pamir_Mountains). == Distribution and status == They are resident birds in rocky hills of [Afghanistan](/source/Afghanistan), [Bhutan](/source/Bhutan), [China](/source/China), [India](/source/India), [Kazakhstan](/source/Kazakhstan), [Myanmar](/source/Myanmar), [Nepal](/source/Nepal), [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan), [Tajikistan](/source/Tajikistan), and [Turkmenistan](/source/Turkmenistan). It is a common bird and has an extremely large range. The population is believed to be stable and for these reasons, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of least concern. == Behaviour and ecology == They frequent rocky hill sides and sequestered valleys, seen up to the snow line. They frequently feed in the fields during the day, but roost in the cliffs. They are generally shy and wary. Gatherings of 150 or more occur in winter, often in the company of [hill pigeon](/source/hill_pigeon)s and in some areas with [rock dove](/source/rock_dove)s also.{{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 | page =624 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=aeZXAAAACAAJ&q=Pigeons+and+Doves:+A+Guide+to+the+Pigeons+and+Doves+of+the+World | isbn =1-873403-60-7 | year =2001 }} [[File:Snow Pigeon Flock Flying Pangolakha WLS Sikkim India 11.02.2016.jpg|thumb|right|A flock of snow pigeons flying over 12,000 ft at [Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary](/source/Pangolakha_Wildlife_Sanctuary) in [Sikkim](/source/Sikkim), [India](/source/India)]] In the summer, they descend to lower heights and are found in pairs or small flocks. They breed in colonies. The [nest](/source/Bird_nest)s are placed in crevices or caves in the face of cliffs or ledges of rock. Their nests are untidy interlaced structures made of sticks, grass, straw, feathers, etc. The nests are generally reused every year with minor repairing. Generally, two [egg](/source/Bird_egg)s are laid. They feed on berries, grain, buds, bulbs, seeds, and shoots. == Status == It is a common and widely distributed species, and the population is believed to be stable. For these reasons, the [International Union for Conservation of Nature](/source/International_Union_for_Conservation_of_Nature) has assessed its [conservation status](/source/conservation_status) as "[Least Concern](/source/Least-concern_species)".{{Cite web |title=Snow Pigeon (Columba leuconota) {{!}} Text {{!}} BirdLife International |url=https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/snow-pigeon-columba-leuconota/text |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=datazone.birdlife.org}} == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == * [http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/snow-pigeon-columba-leuconota Photos, Videos] {{Taxonbar|from=Q841221}} snow pigeon Category:Birds of the Himalayas Category:Birds of Tibet Category:Birds of Afghanistan Category:Birds of Central Asia Category:Eastern Alpide belt endemic bird species snow pigeon Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Snow pigeon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_pigeon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_pigeon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.