Animalia Life

Columba leuconota
SUBFAMILY
Columbinae
TAXONOMY
Columba leuconota Vigors, 1831, Himalayas. Two subspecies.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: White-bellied pigeon, Tibetan dove; French: Pigeon des neiges; German: Schneetaube; Spanish: Paloma Nival.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
12.2–13.4 in (31–34 cm); 9–10.8 oz (255–307 g). Dark slategray head; white and grayish brown upperparts; white underparts. Three black bars across folded wing. Black tail with broad white “V.”
DISTRIBUTION
High mountains of central Asia.
HABITAT
Cliffs at 9,800–16,400 ft (3,000–5,000 m).
BEHAVIOR
Advertises in bowing the head down and lifting the rear with closed tail. Display flight with spread wings and wing-claps.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds on seed, crocus bulbs, and roots; also grain near mountain villages.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Similar to rock pigeon.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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