Snow pigeon

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Snow pigeon
Snow pigeon

Snow pigeon

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Pigeon birds (Columbiformes)
Family : Pigeons (Columbidae)
Genre : Field pigeons ( Columba )
Type : Snow pigeon
Scientific name
Columba leuconota
Vigors , 1811

The snow pigeon ( Columba leuconota ), also called nun pigeon or white-backed pigeon , is a species of pigeon birds and belongs to the subfamily of the Columbinae . The snow pigeon, which is closely related to the rock pigeon , occurs in two subspecies in East Asia. It is classified as a non-endangered species by the IUCN .

Appearance

The snow pigeon reaches a body length of 35 centimeters. It is about the size of a city pigeon, but differs from it by having longer wings and a longer tail.

The head is dark gray to black. The neck and chest are white. The mantle and the smaller wing covers are light gray-brown. The remaining wing feathers are light slate gray. The tail feathers are black and have a wide white band.

Spread and behavior

The snow pigeon is an East Asian pigeon whose main distribution is the Himalayan area. It occurs from Afghanistan via Nepal and Tibet to western China and the northwest of Burma. During the summer months it can also be seen in the southwest of Turkestan . Their distribution area is estimated at around 2.7 million square kilometers.

Their habitat are high mountains. In Nepal, for example, the snow pigeon breeds at altitudes between 4,000 and 5,000 meters. In Tibet it has been observed that the pigeon makes great vertical migrations every day, during which it climbs 2,000 meters. The sleeping places for the snow pigeons are between 4,600 and 5,000 meters. The feeding grounds, on the other hand, are at an altitude of about 2,600 meters above sea level. The snow pigeons move down the rocky slopes in large flocks in the morning and up again in the afternoon. On the feeding grounds, she can often be seen together with cliff pigeons .

Snow pigeons eat seeds and berries. It is a rock breeder that builds its nest in crevices and caves. It often breeds in colonies. The clutch comprises two eggs. The breeding season is 18 days.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Rösler, p. 78

literature

  • Gerhard Rösler: The wild pigeons of the earth - free life, keeping and breeding , Verlag M. & H. Schaper, Alfeld-Hannover 1996, ISBN 3-7944-0184-0

Web link