Hill Pigeon

Columba rupestris (Pallas, 1811)

		Flying bird
2012-11-20 Kosh-Agach, Altai Republic. 2015-05-08 Chuya River mouth, Altai Republic.	© Sergey Pisarevskiy © Sergey Pisarevskiy

Description

Blue Hill Pigeon is very similar to Rock Pigeon and well distinguished by the broad white band on tail. Background color of adult Blue Hill Pigeons is bluish-grey, darker on head and neck. On neck, craw and fore-breast plumage have green and purple metallic gloss. The rear-mantle is white, uppertail is lead-grey. Two wing-bars are black and sometimes fitful. Tail feathers are dark-greyish; tail have broad white pre-terminal band, tips of tail feathers are dark; the outer pair of tail feathers are with white outer web. Bill is black, legs are red, eyes are orange or red. Juveniles are similar on adults but without metallic gloss in plumage, all colors are dim, partially with brownish tinge. Size: wing 210-245 mm, tail 115-135 mm, tarsus 23-29 mm, bill 12-18.8 mm. Weight: about 280 gr.

References

В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Сибири". Москва-Екатеринбург, Изд-во "Кабинетный ученый", 2014. // "Птицы Казахстана" том 2. "Наука". Алма-Ата, 1962.